Las Cruces Utilities Launches Lead and Copper Pipe Inspection Initiative in Compliance with New EPA Rule

According to a recent report, Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) is working to comply with the revised federal Lead and Copper Rule, which went into effect on October 16. LCU has started inspections to find any lead or galvanized steel water service lines inside the municipal borders as part of a direct approach to public health. According to the City of Las Cruces, LCU has so far found no lead water service lines during its survey of the city’s plumbing system, which is a comforting fact for locals.

As a result of the changes required by the new EPA rule, it appears that LCU is following a systematic approach rather than merely inspecting pipes at random. They have a lot of land to cover, with over 15,000 known non-lead pipes and more than 20,000 water service lines composed of unknown materials. Unless their plumbing systems are after 2014, the city’s elementary schools and licensed childcare centers are getting extra attention. Since there is probably less chance of hazardous metal pollution at these institutions, LCU is exempt from sampling them.

LCU has communicated with customers to advise them of the ongoing operations, particularly those with service lines of unknown materials. Except for individuals who are interested in self-inspection, customers are not currently compelled to take any immediate action. For do-it-yourselfers, LCU recommends emailing or using their online inventory map to transmit pictures of inspected water service lines.

Financially speaking, LCU appears to have the expense of repairing city-side lines under control, but when the pipe enters private land, the story takes a different turn. Although LCU is looking for financial aid alternatives to lessen the possible impact on homeowners, the city is not paying for replacements on the customer’s side. Ten years are running out, and LCU wants to find and fix any rogue lines that can endanger the safety of its residents. Service lines that are discovered to be lead or in need of repair because of galvanization problems must be addressed as soon as possible.

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