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' ser...
Click here for full text