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City asking residents to take photos of service lines entering homes
In order to comply with federal drinking water regulations, the city of Ely is reaching out to all of its utility customers.
City residents and business owners are being asked to provide the city with a clear picture of the service line and first valve prior to the meter.
It’s part of an effort to determine if the water intake line is made of lead.
“What’s happening is the (federal) EPA is changing regulations in how we’re testing for lead corrosion,” said Harold Langowski, Ely’s city clerk-treasurer and operations director.
The result is a mandate that cities conduct what Langowski termed as a “service line inventory,” or “what kind of metal is between the water main and your house.”
Customers are asked to take a picture of their service line, and scrape or scratch it to tell if it’s copper, galvanized or if it’s lead.
“If it’s galvanized or lead it’s labeled a Tier I,” said Langowski.
The city, meanwhile, is applying to the state for funding to cover the replacement of service lines that are in the Tier I category.
Detailed instructions will be included in correspondence to all EUC customers, and customers are asked to submit pictures to: metertech@ ely.mn.us.
Those with questions or those who prefer that the city collect the necessary information are asked to call the city at (218) 235-3080.
“A staff person can come in and do it,” said Langowski.
The information is requested by June 14.
Council member Al Forsman noted Tuesday that the correspondence from the EUC will come in a larger envelope and voiced concern that residents might confuse the letter for “junk mail.”
Residents may also reach out to the city at the same time to get on the city’s automated meter reading program, which allows the city to monitor meters remotely rather than a city staff person going door-to-door.
Langowski said the automated system also has benefits for consumers, including “if you have a toilet stuck running, it’s a red flag and then we’re calling you,” said Langowski. “It’s actually protected some houses from flooding.”
In other business Tuesday, the council:
• Accepted John Hunn’s resignation from the Heritage Preservation Commission.
• Approved change orders for the Trailhead site rebid and a taxi lane reconstruction project at the airport.
• Approved a residential rehabilitation loan for Kathy Quigley and Madalynne Reese for a Washington Street residence.
•Appointed Emily Roose to the sanitation committee.
• Canceled a Spaulding lot purchase agreement with Gregory Demarce.
• Received word from St. Louis County that household hazardous waste collections would take place June 13 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the Joint Public Works Garage and Aug. 29 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the Northwoods Transfer Station.
• Appointed Bonnie Starkman to the Tree Board.
• Approved the purchase of about 25 tons of dirt for the Little League field.
• Approved the conditional use permit for construction of a parking lot at the Old Ford Garage site at 26 and 36 East Conan Street. The lot will create parking spaces for the hotel being developed at the Community Center building.
• Approved the rezoning of the old Depot area (former Wilderness Outfitters) from industrial to commercial.
