Utility staff reported that the city’s 2024 notices to customers with unknown service-line materials failed to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements and that the EPA issued a warning to the city.

"Unfortunately, the notices that we sent out did not meet the EPA requirements for the information that it's contained," Utility staff said, adding that staff has already received EPA approval on corrected notices and that the warning will be lifted once correct notices are sent.

Staff presented two distribution options: include the corrected text in the annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) or mail individual notices to each customer. Committee members noted that mailing individual letters previously cost about $4,500 and raised concerns that customers might see the word "lead" and become alarmed even when there is no evidence of lead in the lines.

Committee members suggested using the city utility webpage and the billing insert to direct customers to more information to reduce call volume. Utility staff said the corrected notices include multiple website links so customers can access full information.

What happens next: staff will use EPA-approved corrected notices and recommended communication channels; the committee did not adopt a formal motion at this meeting but discussed CCR insertion and targeted outreach to minimize unnecessary customer concern.