At the October 17 meeting, the Rushford Village Council received an update on water system inspections. The inspections were part of the Lead and Copper Rule regulation. Originally published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1991, the agency revised the rule, and the state put it into effect in 2021 to support actions to reduce lead in drinking water.
The Minnesota Department of Health set a deadline of October 16, 2024, for each municipality to inspect, document and report the findings of each water system. “The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions require public water systems to identify the service line materials of all service connections in their distribution system regardless of ownership status,” says the Department of Health information.
The state required gathering data, including historical records and information provided by property owners, documenting systems, and conducting any needed sampling. Municipalities were to consolidate the data into an electronic database. After the inventory, the Department of Health required municipalities to notify properties regarding the discovery of any lead, galvanizing needing replacement, or “lead status unknown” service lines.
“We’re way under the threshold for what the allowable level is, so we’re sitting really good for the lead and copper stuff,” said Public Works Supervisor Trenten Chiglo. “We’re actually in the, I believe it was the 90th percentile, they said, so we’re way up there, which is good news. We don’t have to worry about correcting issues with that.”
City Clerk Mary Miner noted that letters are ready to go out to those who tested. Each property that did will get its results. Regarding additional Lead and Copper Rule protocol, Miner has completed a spreadsheet of property documentation for Minnesota Rural Water to review before it’s submitted to the state.
An update from Community Economic Development Associates (CEDA) Business and Community Development Specialist Rebecca Charles stated work continues updating the Comprehensive Plan. A part of the plan update includes a village-wide survey. Property owners received a survey asking about city goals. The two surveys, one to community leaders and the other to the public, can be completed anonymously. CEDA requests the public return the completed surveys by November 8.
A community input event will be held at the village hall on November 8 at 7 p.m. The community should attend to discuss city goals and priorities for the next 20 years.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, November 7, at 7 p.m. at the village hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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