City of Muskegon's Lead Service Water Line Replacement Update

Details: By Derek Wong; Feb 11; Last Updated: February 11 2025; Hits: 1379

City of Muskegon Addresses Lead Service Lines: A Comprehensive Overview

KEY POINTS

City of Muskegon's Water Safety: While Muskegon's water is safe and has never exceeded EPA lead limits, the city is replacing all lead service lines as no amount of lead is considered safe.
Replacement Methods: Replacements occur through large neighborhood projects (currently in Oakview and Sheldon Park) and city-led repairs for issues like new homes, low pressure, or breaks.
Service Line Components: A demonstration board illustrated the service line from the water main to the meter, with the city replacing everything up to the meter, but not internal plumbing.
Funding: Replacements are funded by a 20-year state loan, partially covered by grants. Declining grant percentages will increase costs for citizens. The city encourages residents to advocate for continued grant funding.
Notification and Resources: Homeowners receive mail and door hanger notices before replacements. The website MKGCity.com/lslr (lower cases) provides project information, lead reduction resources, and a map showing service line status.
Service Line Map: The map shows green (replaced/no lead), red (lead), and yellow (previously connected to lead) service lines. Yellow lines are replaced due to potential contamination of downstream pipes.
Replacement Process: Replacements require access to the home's basement/crawl space. Contractors typically work from inside the house, minimizing yard disruption.
Timeline: The city aims to complete replacements by 2037 (federal) or 2040 (state), with hopes of finishing sooner, potentially mid-decade.
Prioritization: Neighborhood projects target areas with the highest density of lead service lines. City-led replacements are driven by other factors like breaks or low pressure.
Internal Plumbing: Homeowners should contact a plumber for replacing internal plumbing.
Communication: The city sent letters to residents about their service line material and will provide further notifications before replacements.
Video is an excerpt, watch the full 02-10-25 City Of Muskegon Commisisoners Work Session here.

Dan VanderHeide, City of Muskegon's Director of Public Works, presented an update on lead service line replacements. Muskegon's water is safe and has never exceeded EPA-mandated lead levels, but the city is proactively replacing all lead service lines. Replacements are done via large construction projects in neighborhoods (currently Oakview and Sheldon Park) and by the city for issues like new homes, low water pressure, or broken lines. A demonstration board showed the components of a service line, from the water main to the meter. The city replaces the entire service line up to the meter, but not internal household plumbing.

These replacements are funded through a 20-year loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, with a portion historically forgiven as grants. The city is advocating for continued grant funding, as declining grant percentages will increase costs for citizens. Homeowners are notified by mail and door hangers before replacements begin and can find information on the project and lead reduction resources at [MKGCity.com/lslr] (lower cases). The website includes a map showing the status of service lines (green for replaced/no lead, red for lead, yellow for previously connected to lead). Yellow lines are replaced due to the possibility of lead contamination in downstream galvanized steel pipes.

Replacements require access to the home's basement or crawl space. Contractors typically access the water main from inside the house, minimizing yard disruption, although some digging is necessary. The city aims to complete replacements by 2037 (federal mandate) or 2040 (state mandate), but hopes to finish sooner, potentially by mid-decade. The city prioritizes areas with the highest density of lead service lines for neighborhood projects. City-led replacements are driven by other factors like breaks or low pressure. Homeowners are encouraged to contact a plumber for replacing internal plumbing. The city sent letters to residents indicating the likely material of their service line, and will send additional notifications before replacement projects begin.