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MLGW tells council it will seek homeowners’ right of entry for 600‑home lead line pilot; ARPA timeline highlighted
Summary
President McGowan told councilmembers MLGW will target 600 homes for a lead service-line replacement pilot and will seek individual signed right‑of‑entry forms; he cited a prior 23% acceptance rate for an earlier pilot and said ARPA funds must be spent by September 2026.
Memphis — Memphis Light, Gas & Water officials told city council they will pursue individual homeowners’ signed right‑of‑entry forms to carry out a 600‑home lead service‑line replacement pilot and that outreach will be targeted to prior public-side replacements where private lines remain.
President McGowan said MLGW and its contracted partner will contact homeowners directly — planning up to four pieces of correspondence — and that when residents opt in they will sign a right‑of‑entry form allowing crews to replace private-side lead service lines. "We will be seeking the individual's right of entry," McGowan said when explaining how the pilot will secure access.
Councilwoman Cooper Sutton pressed for details about community outreach and acceptance rates; McGowan acknowledged the initial pilot had a low acceptance rate (about 23%) and said targeted engagement and roundtables with community organizations improved dialogue and helped the utility identify additional funding sources, including state revolving loan funds.
On warranties and responsibility, McGowan said the contractor will warrant the work for a short period ("1 or 2 years," he said; he promised to confirm the exact term) and that after warranty expiration the private line generally becomes the homeowner’s responsibility. He also told the council administration that ARPA funds being used for the work must be spent by September 2026, which the utility said put time pressure on contracting and outreach.
Why it matters: Replacing private lead service lines reduces residents' exposure to lead in drinking water but requires homeowner cooperation and access. The administration framed the targeted outreach approach — rather than broad public meetings — as the best way to raise opt‑in rates quickly enough to meet federal funding deadlines.
What happens next: Council approved the MLGW fiscal consent items as part of the consent agenda; MLGW will proceed with contractor selection and homeowner outreach for the pilot and supply written warranty details and outreach plans as requested.
