Marshfield Utilities says lead sampling meets action-level threshold; private-side replacement continues

Marshfield Utilities staff told the Marshfield Utilities Commission that the utility's most recent round of lead and copper testing shows the system remains below the regulatory action level and that state regulators have agreed the utility need not install orthophosphate treatment at this time.

That outcome could reduce the utility's regulatory obligations next year and shift the city's focus back to replacing private-side lead service lines, staff said.

At the meeting, a utilities staff member identified as John said the utility received its final set of 10 samples in the most recent round and that “57 out of 60 were below the action level,” putting the system below the 90th-percentile exceedance threshold used in the lead and copper rule. John said he promptly sent the results to the Department of Natural Resources and the DNR responded the next morning, noting the agency reviewed the results and concluded the city would not be required to install orthophosphate treatment at this time.

John told commissioners that, as a result, the utility will not have the same public-education obligations and will only need to sample 30 sites in the next round rather than 60, reducing staff time and cost for sampling.

The utility also provided an update on its private-side lead service-line replacement project. A staff member identified as Joe said the utility has obtained right-of-entry from about 60% of affected properties and that roughly 36% were unreachable during the first outreach round. Joe said the utility will switch to door-to-door outreach this week and acknowledged a small number of property owners remain opposed to replacement work.

Joe said the commission has set a replacement deadline of Dec. 31, 2026, and that city legal staff has discussed notice, enforcement, and penalty options that could be triggered if owners do not comply with the replacement schedule. He said the utility is considering whether to accelerate the replacement schedule next year if outreach makes additional progress and contractors and funding remain available.

Commissioners and staff framed the discussion as updates and planning; no new policy or enforcement action was adopted at the meeting.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the sample round discussed consisted of 60 samples total with 57 below the action level; the DNR reviewed and concurred that orthophosphate installation is not currently required; the private-side replacement program has about 60% right-of-entry, about 36% initially unreachable, and a municipal deadline of Dec. 31, 2026. Staff said the next sampling round will require 30 samples rather than 60.

The utilities commission did not take further action on orthophosphate or change the replacement deadline at this meeting; staff will continue outreach and return with updates as the project proceeds.