City taking part in effort to address lead water lines

The City of Albert Lea will start replacing lead and galvanized service lines when the State of Minnesota releases grant funds to start the program. The City hopes to receive the grant by the end of 2025. The City will mail notices to affected property owners when starting replacements.

The City will first replace water service lines that are known to be lead or galvanized. Then the City will focus on verifying lines listed as unknown. The current grant will cover about 170 service lines.

Water service lines have dual ownership. The public portion, from the curb stop to the water main, is the responsibility of the City of Albert Lea while the privately owned portion of the service line, from the curb stop to the home, is the responsibility of the property owner.

Under the lead removal program, any part of the line that contains lead – either public, private or both – will be replaced. Property owners will need to sign an agreement allowing the City to conduct work on their property for replacing both public and private portions of their service line. As long as the City has grant funds, there will be no charge to the property owner.

No, any replacements or repairs made by the property owner outside of the lead removal program are not eligible for reimbursement.

Residents will receive a letter from the Albert Lea Utilities Department notifying them that their water service line is included in the City’s replacement program. They will need to sign a form to allow the City’s licensed plumber to work on their property and access their home to inspect and replace the service line.

The City and property owners have replaced many lead lines over the past several years. Now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requiring each state to replace all remaining lead water lines. The goal is to eliminate all lead water lines by 2033.

If the City has no documentation of the material of your water service line, then it listed the line as “unknown.” That means the City needs to verify whether it’s made of lead or other material. The City plans to verify the material of all unknown service lines. If made of lead or galvanized material, the lines will need to be replaced. If made of copper or plastic, then no replacement is needed.

The least common type of service line is lead. Copper is the most common and plastic is the industry standard. Lead lines are typically found in houses built before the 1940s with the original service line still in use.

The City of Albert Lea is not aware of any health effects related to its drinking water. The City must test our drinking water for contaminants on a regular basis and the water meets all standards set by the Minnesota Department of Health, including lead. The City also takes steps to prevent the release of lead into our water.

Residents can also take simple steps to reduce lead in their drinking water:

• Use a filter (see more information below)
• Let water run to flush the home’s pipes before using the water for drinking or cooking
• Use cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking and making baby formula
• Clean the screen on faucets, called aerators, to prevent lead particles trapped in the screen from getting into drinking water

Residents are welcome to have their water tested for lead at their own expense. Contact an area laboratory to arrange for testing:

• UC Laboratory, 129 N. Main, Janesville, MN 56048; 507-234-5835
• Minnesota Valley Testing Lab, 1126 N. Front St., New Ulm, MN; 507-354-8517