GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Water Utility is working to build an inventory of all of the water service lines that provide drinking water to city of Greenfield utility customers.
The work is required as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision of the Safe Drinking Water Act that became effective Dec. 21, 2021. The first component of the new rule is the requirement for public water systems to develop a lead service line inventory by Oct. 16, 2024. The inventory must include 100% of all connections to the public water distribution system, both the utility-owned side and the privately owned side. Once the inventory is completed, it will serve as a foundation to build plans to remove old service lines, even if they are not made of lead in the near future.
The Greenfield Water Utility said in a news release that it is committed to protecting public health by working consistently for a future without lead lines, or lines that have been contaminated by lead in the past.
“For the first time we, as a public water system, have to keep a record of customer service lines,” said Charles Gill, water utility manager for the city of Greenfield. “The Lead and Copper Rule Revision is now clear on the requirements of the inventory after an extension that was put in place to provide the opportunity for stakeholders to comment. Our utility water operators can now focus on getting the work done, ensuring that we are ready to exceed the expectations of this improved rule. Our first priority is protecting the public health.”
The utility is asking the public to be partners in the very time-sensitive project. A short survey has been created to allow customers to quickly and easily let the water utility know if their home or building was built prior to 1988, and if the private water service line has been replaced. Additionally, the survey asks the customer to identify what material is used in their current water service line that comes into the home or business. The utility will use completed surveys as verified information for the inventory. Customers can access the survey online at https://www.greenfieldin.org/utilities/water-utility/lcr-guidelines or by calling the water utility at 317-477-4350.
The Greenfield Water Utility said it looks forward to working collaboratively with the EPA and Indiana Department of Environmental Management on the next generation step in protecting public health and safety, adding it is here to provide the most important and basic need of the public health — safe, clean drinking water for all.
