31 October 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CITY OF SOUTHPORT
THE CITY OF SOUTHPORT WATER UTILITY LAUNCHES PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY, REPLACE LEAD WATER LINES
Southport, NC – As part of an effort to meet new Federal requirements related to lead in water service lines, Southport’s Department of Public Services IS compiling an inventory of all water lines servicing homes in the City.
This inventory is the first step in a project to identify and replace lines comprised of lead or galvanized materials, which is a requirement for all water utilities in the state under new regulations passed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) published December 16, 2021.
Southport’s DPS Director Tom Stanley reassures residents: “We regularly test our water for lead and other contaminants and have had no issues in over ten years. Our drinking water is of exceptional quality.”
City Engineer, Tom Zilinek is overseeing the program and spoke with the Board of Alderman at a recent meeting. “The City has an excellent track record in terms of water quality, and we are being pro-active in beginning this process now,” he stated.
The inventory will be used to establish priorities for service line replacement which means identifying the areas with the most lead service lines and addressing these first. Another element of priority will be to reduce costs by combining the projects with other efforts that involve opening roads and sidewalks, and to replace multiple service lines in one area at the same time.
“It is important to ensure our water remains absolutely safe and stay on top of our infrastructure,” said City Manager, Bonnie Therrien.
To compile the inventory, the City is including a letter in an upcoming water bill asking residents to look at their service lines and submit information on the materials used via e-mail or a form that will be included in a future water utility bill. Residents who need help locating their service lines or identifying the material can contact DPS directly for guidance.
Residents can submit this information directly using a link found on the City’s web site:https://cityofsouthport.com/lead-service-line-identification-and-replacement-program/
Residents with questions regarding this process should contact DPS directly at 910-457-7935 or e-mail the City Engineer, Tom Zilinek, at [email protected].
Residents can use the below guides to determine what material is in the lines leading to their homes:
ChyAnn Ketchum
Public Information Officer
City of Southport
[email protected]
O: (910) 457-7927 ext. 1040
C: (910) 267-7300
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