Title
Resolution to Appropriate Monies from the Water System Fund Balance to Complete a Water Service Line Replacement Project ($522,366.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
The City of Ann Arbor has a long standing history of providing high quality drinking water to the Ann Arbor community. During the last several months the drinking water crisis in Flint has brought national attention to lead in drinking water, and on water service line materials. Lead can make its way into drinking water if the water traveling through lead pipes is overly corrosive. Ann Arbor’s water is not corrosive and sample results have historically and consistently been extremely low or non-detect. However, Ann Arbor is committed to removing any lead piping in the water system. While Ann Arbor does not have any known lead service lines, there are a small number of galvanized iron service lines that contain a short piece of lead piping that need to be replaced.
Ownership of water service lines in Ann Arbor, like many communities, is shared between the property owner and the City. The City owns the portion of the service line that runs from the water main to the edge of the property, generally near the sidewalk. The portion of the service line from the property line to the home is owned by the property owner.
The City has data on piping materials for the portion of the service line for which it owns. Prior to 1928, the City used galvanized iron pipe when installing service lines. Because iron pipe is not flexible, the City used a short piece of flexible lead pipe (commonly called a “gooseneck”) to connect the service line to the water main. The gooseneck is generally 1.5 - 2 feet in length. The City began using copper in 1928, but reverted to iron during World War II, then returned to copper. The overwhelming majority of the City’s service lines are copper, and a small percent are galvanized iron.
The City does not have information on the private property owners’ service line materials, or what piping exists inside of individual homes or businesses. There are likely many more galvanized service lines than what remains on the City side. A certified plumber can assist property owners in determining piping materials and potential sources of lead within the home. Sources of lead in homes can include solder used on piping and in older brass faucets, common in homes with piping or fixtures installed before 1988.
The City has had a long standing practice of replacing its portion of galvanized iron service lines as streets are repaved, or as these services are discovered during a repair or water main replacement project. More than 1000 service lines have been replaced since 1988. Today, 118 remain.
Although the City’s source water is not corrosive, and all sampling data have tested extremely low or not detected, a targeted program to replace the few remaining City-owned galvanized service lines is prudent, for several reasons:
1. These service lines are beyond their useful life.
2. It is unknown when some of the streets where the service lines exist may be resurfaced.
3. There is an opportunity to perform this work in-house while allowing contractors to install taps at the recently approved housing development.
4. The City’s Water Fund contains a healthy fund balance that could be used to fund the replacement program, rather than it being absorbed into existing budgets over the course of several years. The price of copper continues to rise, and so materials and supplies would be less expensive now than in the future.
The estimated cost for replacement of 118 City owned service lines and pre and post sampling is $474,878.00. This estimate uses an average pipe length, diameter and depth, with the understanding that each service line is unique and costs will vary. A typical replacement takes 5 hours and requires 4 employees for the job (based on City and MIOSHA standards). The estimate does NOT include overhead for labor or materials.
A dedicated crew will be assigned to the project and anticipate completion by November 2016. Customers will be notified ahead of the replacement and pre and post replacement water samples will be collected and analyzed from each home for lead.
It is recommended that Council appropriate monies from the water supply system unobligated fund balance to the water supply system fund in the FY16 budget to expedite this project. A contingency in the amount of 10% is also requested for the project.
Budget Impact:
Funding is available in the water supply system unobligated fund balance.
Staff
Prepared by: Molly Maciejewski, Field Operations Unit Manager
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has identified 118 galvanized iron service lines that contain lead piping and are in need of replacement;
Whereas, The Field Operations Unit is responsible for repair and maintenance of the underground water infrastructure and is prepared to undertake the tasks necessary to complete the project; and
Whereas, Funding is available in the water supply system unobligated fund balance;
RESOLVED, That Council appropriate $522,366.00 from the water supply system unobligated fund balance to the water supply system fund in the FY16 budget to expedite this project, with the funds to be made available without regard to fiscal year.