IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Village of Marathon City Waterworks Failed to Develop an Initial Service Line Inventory
Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. As our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation.
We were required to develop and make publicly available an initial inventory of service lines connected to our distribution system by October 16, 2024. Our Utilities submitted the initial inventory by October 16, 2024, but failed to report multiple private lateral and public lateral line material types as required. The inventory must identify the service line materials as lead galvanized requiring replacement (GRR)7, lead-status unknown/unknown, or non-lead. Identifying and ultimately removing lead and GRR service lines is an important way to protect public health.
There is the potential your service line could be made of lead or contain lead. People living in homes with service lines that are made of or contain lead have an increased risk of exposure to lead from their drinking water.
We notified homeowners served at service connections with a lead or galvanized but failed to notify unknown service lines on in 2024.
What should I do?
Marathon City Water Utility System is young compared to some other water systems located in larger Villages and Cities. We have found 2 lead services in the past 5 years of inspections. For Marathon City, plumbing is the main concern when it comes to lead exposure in the water. Our watermains consist of Ductile Iron, PVC or plastic with the water service lines mainly Copper, Galvanized Steel or Plastic. There is a chance of having a Lead Service Line as we did find 2 doing inspections in 2024. For the two locations, the homes were built around the 1930’s.
This will help you identify your piping:
Service Water Line Identification Tips
Using the edge of a screwdriver, penny, or another similar tool, scratch or scrape through any corrosion that may have built up on the outside of the pipe so that the color of the pipe can clearly be seen.
You can also use a magnet and the color of the pipe to identify the material of the water service line from the following criteria:
- Lead: Shiny and silver-gray. Will not stick to magnet
- Galvanized Steel: Dull silver-gray, Will stick to magnet
- Copper: Copper like a penny. Will not stick to magnet
- Plastic: Vary in color. Will not stick to magnet
Listed below are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead:
- Learn what your service line material is. Contact the Village Waterworks Operator at 715-680-6804 or email amartin@marathoncitywi.gov or a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made from lead, galvanized, or other materials. Protect Your Tap: A quick check for lead is the EPA’s online step by step guide to learn how to find lead pipes in your home (www.epa.gov/pyt).
- Learn about construction in your neighborhood. Unless your service line is not made of lead or galvanized you should be aware of any nearby construction or maintenance work that could disturb the line. Ground tremors from construction may suddenly cause more lead to be released from lead or galvanized service lines in the area.
- Use your filter properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, make sure you use a filter certified to remove lead. Read the directions to learn how to properly install and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter.
- Clean your aerator. Regularly remove and clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
- Use cold water. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Remember, boiling water does not remove lead from water.
- Run your water. The more time water has been sitting in pipes, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, and the length of the lead service line. Residents should contact their water utility for recommendations about flushing times in their community.
- Have your water tested. Contact your water utility to have your water tested and to learn more about the lead levels in your drinking water.
For the great majority of homes in Marathon City, the material is copper or some other type not containing lead. Therefore checking to see if you have lead is a great insurance to see what, if any, actions should be taken.
What does this mean?
Service line inventories are the foundation from which water systems take action to address a significant source of lead in drinking water. Establishing an inventory of service line materials and identifying the location of lead and GRR service lines is a key step in getting them replaced and protecting public health. Typically, lead enters water supplies by leaching from lead pipes, brass faucets, plumbing with leaded solder, and other plumbing components containing lead. In homes with lead pipes that connect the home to the water main, also known as lead services lines, these pipes are typically the most significant source of lead in the water. Lead pipes are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1986. Service lines made of galvanized iron or steel that are (or were previously) downstream of lead service lines are classified as galvanized requiring replacement (GRR) because galvanized service lines that are or ever were downstream from an LSL can adsorb lead and contribute to lead in drinking water. Identifying and ultimately removing lead and GRR service lines is an important way to protect public health.
What is being done?
The Village is currently working with the DNR to fix the data submitted. For properties not reported or left empty, the Village is going through its records and updating that data column. It will have several properties marked unknown until the next meter read out inspection is completed. By PSC requirements, each home needs a meter inspection/cross connection survey completed every 10 years. With the amount of homes serviced, it could take up to 10 years to get an updated list.
For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s Web site at http://www.epa.gov/lead or contact your health care provider.
For more information, please contact Aaron Martin, Waterworks Operator at 715-680-6804 or mail to 712 3rd Street, Marathon City, WI 54448.
*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *
This notice is being sent to you by Village of Marathon City Waterworks, Public Water System ID#:73701518.
Date distributed: 3/3/2025