Lead and Copper Rule for Drinking Water

The US Environmental Protection agency has made revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule for drinking water. Within these revisions is the requirement for all water providers to develop an inventory of all service lines in their systems to identify potential sampling locations and to better communicate with households that are or may be served by lead service lines to inform them of the actions they may take to reduce risks.

About a year ago the Village of Voorheesville started a campaign requesting the assistance of homeowners in identifying the service line material in homes. DPW has been busy researching development maps, years homes were built, digging test pits and interviewing former developers to best ascertain the service line materials in homes and in the streets.

Although we were unable to investigate the materials of every home we were able to successfully complete 85% of the properties in the Village. The report has been submitted to the EPA and now we are ready to move onto the next step of the EPA requirements.

What are the Next Steps?

1. Share. Village leadership would like to share the results of the full study with the property owners. This information is posted in a table on following page. This table will show what we determined the service line material would be on the Village owned side of the materials and show what we determined the service line material would be on the resident side of the service line materials.
2. Communicate. Village Hall will send a letter to every property owner and resident who has a connection to a property that was not yet identified and:
   1. Ask the for residence assistance in identifying the service line materials.
   2. Provide information to residents if there could be lead in your service line materials.
3. Resolve. Village leadership will work together with property owners to schedule service line replacements. Once properties are identified and we know service lines must be replaced, the Village will explore options for proceeding financially. Depending on whether it is the responsibility of the Village or the property owner, what the financial situation is of the homeowners and how a resolution can most quickly come to fruition to ensure safe drinking water for all residents in the Village.