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Cities in Chisago County have submitted their statistics for a comprehensive state-wide lead service line inventory. The collecting of information was part of a program to address health impacts resulting from exposure to lead via community water systems.  The good news is there does not appear to be any widespread issues with lead lines here.

The 2023 state legislature appropriated $8.4 million total for grants to complete the inventory and there were 405 systems that were awarded grant assistance to do their inventories.  Taylors Falls city received some of this grant help to pay Bolton & Menk engineering consultants who were to finish visits to a few addresses,  where city staff were unable to.  Paul Stenger, in Public Works,  told the Press the data for this assisted part of the field visits is in -process.  Some residents are just tougher than others to reserve a date and time to view their service lines.

Then, there is the Drinking Water Revolving Fund which has been set aside to replace lines that pose health risks.  To fully address all Minnesota’s 966 community water systems’ potential for lead lines,  could run as much as $1 billion, according to the MN Health Department.  

If you have a property serviced by a lead waterline, you will be notified by your public water system for a replacement.  The community system operator has access to  funds that covers 100 percent of replacement.  Individual private property owners can not apply for replacement project aid, the public system must act as the conduit for financial aid.

Of community water systems here, just a handful of lead-containing sites have been declared.  

Lindstrom reported the most lead containing lines of community systems locally, at eight.

Center City identified four in-property lines that contain lead.  North Branch, Harris and Chisago City have three lines a piece, made with lead.  Wyoming, Shafer and Stacy are reporting one private service line, with lead.

The city lines within the right-of-way are mostly “not  needing replacement” but some testing on these public segments is on-going.  Many city water mains have been redone over the years.  The service line is what enters your home or business connecting from the community system.

There are also multiple galvanized lines identified in the inventory of some cities, which require replacement but are not rated with the same urgency.

Statistics are available on-line at the Lead Service Line inventory tracking tool umn.edu/lsl.   Inventory information includes manufactured home neighborhoods and stand alone systems in places like Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.  (The internet information is still being updated,  so details specific to your home address may or may not be current.)

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