Hastings staff outline 10‑year lead service and 4‑inch main replacement plan, aiming to pair work to maximize federal aid

Hastings Utilities staff updated the board Wednesday on an ongoing multi‑year program to replace lead water services and small, older 4‑inch mains, saying the work advances public‑health compliance and improves inadequate fire flow in older neighborhoods.

Brandon (utilities staff member) told the board the program began in 2020 and that the utility has already replaced 173 lead services and about 3.25 miles of water main under the city’s prioritized plan. He said about $450,000 in SRF (federal pass-through) funding has been received to date and additional requests are pending.

The board heard that two technical drivers guided prioritization: pipe age/material and hydraulic capacity for fire flow. Staff presented break‑history data showing older pipes and cast‑iron mains fail at substantially higher rates. “Main construction of cast iron represents 37% of our system, but is responsible for 84% of our failures,” Brandon said. He also noted new federal guidance requiring municipalities to remove all known lead water services within 10 years and said the city’s current program targets the 4‑inch mains that contain roughly 70% of the known lead services.

Staff explained why pairing main replacement with service replacement is their preferred approach: replacing only the service line can disturb older mains and undermine long‑term reliability, whereas installing a new main and attaching new services creates a longer‑term asset. For the densest older neighborhoods, the utility said jobs are more expensive because of the number of service connections, and staff estimates a long‑term goal of replacing roughly 1% of the system annually (about two miles) when the program is at full pace.

Brandon said the utility’s 10‑year goal (previously framed in the 2021 plan) is now consistent with the federal timetable; staff noted the program is not yet at full pace but said existing crews and construction capacity could be redirected to meet a 10‑year target if the board directs that priority and resources permit. Board member Jeanette DeWalt and others praised staff for an approach intended to maximize the efficiency of crews and minimize rework for residents.

The board did not take formal action; staff will continue to seek SRF funding, schedule construction, and include the water‑main program in upcoming budget deliberations.