Oklahoma City utility trustees keep corrosion-control approach, staff say 400+ lead service lines will be replaced sooner

The Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust on Dec. 16 approved an engineering report that recommends maintaining the utility’s current corrosion-control treatment and heard staff say they have identified just over 400 lead service lines in the system and will pursue an accelerated replacement contract.

The presenter identified in the transcript as "Mister Hare" summarized a 2018 contract with Corolla Engineers to evaluate distribution-system water quality, develop a nitrification action plan and assess corrosion-control treatment for pipe interiors. The study evaluated cast iron pipe, lead service lines, galvanized iron and premise plumbing and concluded that "maintaining the current corrosion control treatment practice is recommended to ensure continued water quality," the presenter said.

A technical review committee that provided input at major milestones included experts from OSU Tulsa, Virginia Tech, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s…