The Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 30 reviewed results of a state‑required lead and copper service line inventory and said roughly half of its customers will receive mailed notifications about their service line material.

Julie Kennedy, providing a meeting recap, said the utility completed the inventory required for the Department of Health and that a statewide map and resource information are available on the utility’s website. “You will receive a letter if your pipe was identified as lead, galvanized, or unknown,” Kennedy said. She added customers identified with PVC or newer pipe types will not receive a notice.

Kennedy reported the inventory identified one lead service line and 14 galvanized service lines; she also said “many” service lines remain listed as unknown in the inventory. The utility did not provide a complete count of unknowns in the meeting recap.

Kennedy said the inventory and replacement effort are part of a federal initiative involving the Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency and said grant dollars will be available to help replace lines. “It sounds like we've got maybe about 10 years,” she said, referring to the overall timeline being discussed for replacement programs. Kennedy added that homeowners are generally expected to be responsible for the portion of service line replacement from the jurisdictional line to their home, while grant funding may cover other portions or provide abatement assistance.

The utility advised customers to check the online map and to watch for mailed notices. The meeting transcript did not include details about specific grant programs, the total number of affected customers, or a schedule for individual replacements; those items will be provided as the utility posts more information online and in mailed notices.

Next steps: customers receiving letters should consult the utility website for the map and resources; the utility will continue coordinating with the Department of Health and EPA on inventory validation and replacement funding.