In conjunction with the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the MN Department of Health (MDH) has committed funding to replace lead service lines in Minnesota’s public water systems.
Service lines are pipes connecting the water main to the interior plumbing of a home/building. See image below.
Under this program, SPU is required to create an inventory of all water service line materials within our distributed water system. This must be completed by October 2024, then submitted and approved by the MDH. Following the approval of this inventory, a plan to remove and replace lead service lines begins in 2025 or sooner. We anticipate very low numbers.
There is no cost to customers to have lead service lines removed and replaced. As the water purveyor, SPU will be responsible for this process and will contact those customers with lead service lines.
Letters were mailed to approximately 3,400 SPU water customers that may have lead service lines based on construction dates. Customers with buildings/homes constructed after lead use was discontinued were not mailed a letter.
The link below will provide a good summary of the Lead Service Line Replacement Process. If you have further questions you may contact the SPU Water Department at 952-233-1503 during business hours, Mon-Fri.
Lead Service Line Replacement Process