City to send out information regarding water line materials

If you are a City of Rhinelander water customer, keep an eye on your mailbox.

In accordance with state and federal law, the city is preparing to send out letters to its water customers with information regarding the materials that make up the water lines.

“Per the Lead and Copper Rules Revisions (LCCR), the city is required to have an inventory of the known materials that make up water lines in the city, both on the city’s side of the curb stop as well as on the customers’ side of the curb stop,” city administrator Patrick Reagan explained in a press release. 

Per City ordinance, all lines from the watermain to the curb stop are the responsibility of the city — from the curb stop to the structure is the responsibility of the property owner.

According to the release, two types of notices will be sent out to city property owners — one that states that the property owner has either a confirmed galvanized line from the curb stop and into the structure or one that states that the makeup of their line is unknown. 

Those that have a copper water line (which is the ideal material for a water line) will receive no notification letter, Reagan added.

“Through the years, during construction projects or calls for service, city employees have had the ability to find out what material the water service line is made up of in a number of cases,” he explained. “Unfortunately, as these lines are buried in the ground, we don’t know the makeup of all lines on the property owners’ side, which means some letters will be sent out reading “unknown.””

In December 2021, all Wisconsin municipalities were notified that they would need to complete an inventory of service lines by October 16, 2024. The City of Rhinelander has met this deadline and sending out letters to customers is the next step in this required process. 

While the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers this program for Wisconsin municipalities and water providers, the overall program, and  compliance, are being led by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

“By completing this inventory and by sending out letters of notice, the City of Rhinelander is — like other Wisconsin water suppliers — following the direction as mandated,” the release states.

“At this point, the City is working to insure compliance with the program as set forth by the EPA and the DNR,” said Reagan. “We are simply letting residents know what material makes up their line, as we are required to do. Like all water suppliers in Wisconsin, we will work to comply with any future steps set forth by the EPA and the DNR as required.”

For more information about water lines in the city, contact the city’s water department at 715-362-2728 or visit the City of Rhinelander website at www.rhinelanderwi.us.