Kingsport moves to inventory water service lines under new EPA rules; applies for state grant

Kingsport city officials voted unanimously Jan. 20 to apply for a Tennessee state water infrastructure grant to assist with a required inventory of water service line materials under recent revisions to the EPA lead and copper rule.

Deputy City Manager Ryan explained the rule change requires ‘‘positive identification’’ of the materials for the entire service lateral: from the distribution main to the meter (the utility’s side) and from the meter to the house (the customer’s side). Ryan said Kingsport’s voluntary survey reached roughly 30% of the system’s about 38,000 service connections and that no lead service lines were reported in the voluntary responses.

The grant that staff are pursuing through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has a maximum award of $250,000, Ryan said. He described the next phases as door‑to‑door inspections to visually confirm materials and, when access or visibility is not possible, targeted excavation on either side of the meter to identify construction material. City staff emphasized the inventory is a large effort because the utility serves over 38,000 connections and portions of Sullivan, Washington, Greene and Hawkins counties and a few customers in Scott County, Virginia.

Council members asked how customers would be treated if a lead service line is found. Ryan said legally the utility owns to the meter and the customer owns from the meter to the house; if the city found lead on its side it would remediate its portion immediately. For customer‑side lead, Ryan said the city has not developed a universal remediation funding plan but that jurisdictions with larger problems (for example Flint, Mich.) have obtained state or federal funding; he said Kingsport has not seen evidence of a systemic lead problem.

Ryan pointed council members to a public web page maintained by the city that includes a map showing two markers per address (utility side and customer side) and a process to self‑report pipe material; the city said that addresses identified as galvanized, copper or plastic based on the self‑screen eliminate the need for a staff visit. Ryan also noted the grant would not be expected to finish the entire inventory by itself; the $250,000 maximum would assist the effort but staff expect to pursue additional funding and to continue the inventory program in phases.

The council approved the resolution to ratify the application and authorized the mayor to execute a supporting letter. Staff said they will continue public outreach, update the online map as inventories are completed and schedule door‑to‑door inspections where necessary.