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DeWitt board adopts local law allowing water shutoff as measure to complete meter replacements; testing for lead lines discussed
Summary
The Town of DeWitt on May 12 adopted a local law that allows discontinuance of water service as a last resort to gain access for a planned meter replacement program; board members and residents also discussed targeted testing for potential lead service lines in older neighborhoods.
The Town of DeWitt Town Board adopted a local law on May 12, 2025, that authorizes discontinuance of water service as a last-resort enforcement tool to allow town crews to replace meters as part of a program covering about 10,000 hookups.
The change amends chapter 186 (sections 15 and 23) to add enforcement language aimed at ensuring access for meter changeouts, town officials said. The board voted to accept the ordinance after a brief discussion and with an assurance that shutoffs would come only after repeated attempts to gain access and other remedies had been exhausted.
Supervisor Michael Enko, presenting the measure, said the law “gives us a little bit of teeth” to secure access for the meter program, noting the town will give multiple notices and opportunities for residents to allow technicians into properties. The board emphasized that service would not be shut off until “long exhausted any other possibilities” and multiple contacts are attempted, including phone calls and door knocks.
Town officials said the meter program will affect roughly 10,000 hookups and that property owners will receive schedules and requests to grant access. The board discussed that, under the contract arrangements, a minimum of three written attempts is expected before moving to more assertive steps; members said in practice the board will pursue more than three contacts and will discuss any extreme cases with the board before initiating shutoffs.
The discussion also covered concerns about lead service lines. Board members and staff said the town does not yet know the full scope of lead connections and plans to target testing in older neighborhoods where lead is more likely to be present, naming areas built in the 1940s and 1950s and portions of Onondaga County and Syracuse as priorities. Supervisor Enko said the town is seeking funds to cover the cost of testing and noted that some assistance from county and state health programs is available for water-quality remediation but generally not for replacing private lead service lines.
A town official said the proposed rules are substantially the same as regulations used by ACWA (as referenced in the presentation) and not a novel approach. Board members also indicated they will coordinate further outreach and return to the board before taking any shutoff actions affecting service.
Action: The board accepted the local law to establish new regulations relating to discontinuance of water service and prohibition of cross connections. Motion to accept the ordinance was made by Town Counselor Sarah Lee Hood and seconded by Max (last name not specified in the record); the motion carried on voice vote.
Why it matters: The meter replacement program affects a large portion of DeWitt’s water customers and the law changes how the town can compel access for necessary infrastructure upgrades. The lead-testing discussion signals potential future work and funding needs to assess water quality in older neighborhoods.
What’s next: Town staff will notify property owners about schedules for meter changeouts, pursue testing in targeted older neighborhoods, and return to the board before any discontinuance action is implemented.
