Sioux City staff told the City Council that the city has submitted a lead service-line inventory and is preparing a replacement plan required under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule, with work scheduled to begin after Nov. 1, 2027, and completed within a 10-year window ending in 2037.

The city’s utilities staff is planning a phased approach and will apply this year for an initial State Revolving Fund (SRF) project that would target about 100 homes, Utilities Director Bridal Pitt said during the meeting. "All of that information has been submitted to DNRDA," Pitt said. "…the compliance date isn't until 11/01/2027. So between now and 2027, we have to have a lead service line plan put together, and that's what kicks off all of the replacement."

Why it matters: the EPA rule creates a nationwide requirement for municipalities to identify and replace lead service lines. Pitt told council members that Sioux City’s inventory initially listed about 7,200 addresses that could require replacement (including lead, galvanized lines and unknowns), but staff have removed a few hundred addresses after record review. Pitt said the city is pursuing SRF funding and other grants; about $7,000,000 is available in the current SRF round and applications are due Dec. 31. "They're considering Sioux City disadvantaged for this project. So 49% of whatever we apply for is forgiven," Pitt said.

Officials described next steps and constraints. Pitt said the city will start with a small project to develop procedures and refine costs. Homeowner consent will be required: "The homeowner, whether they live there or not, has to agree to it as well. That's another caveat. We don't just go and do it. We have to—they have to agree to it," he said. Pitt added staff must attempt contact multiple times and that unanswered refusals could complicate replacement plans.

City estimates and timeline were discussed in broad terms on the record. Pitt and council members framed the total program cost as a multiyear citywide effort and cited back-of-envelope estimates ranging into the tens of millions: "This is a $35 to $50,000,000 project," one council member said; staff agreed the figure was consistent with prior internal estimates and cautioned final costs depend on the number of replacements and chosen delivery method.

Staff emphasized the city is still defining implementation details, required legal and financing work and homeowner outreach. Pitt said the drinking water SRF will likely supply the majority of Sioux City’s funds but that the city will pursue other grants and counsel input on program administration.

The council did not take a formal action to adopt a replacement program at the meeting; staff said they will continue preparing applications and plans ahead of the 2027 compliance date.

Ending: City staff said they will continue refining the inventory, pursue SRF and grant opportunities, and return with project applications and implementation details as they become available.