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Newton selects CDM Smith to inventory lead service lines; council approves budget amendment despite $118,500 shortfall
Summary
Council approved hiring CDM Smith to inventory and investigate pre-lead-ban service laterals under the EPA Revised Lead and Copper Rule, awarding work estimated at $368,500 while the city’s approved budget currently supplies $250,000, leaving a $118,500 gap.
Newton City Council on Aug. 1 approved staff’s recommendation to select CDM Smith to assist the city in complying with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Revised Lead and Copper Rule.
Public Works and Utilities Director Dusty Wentz told council the revised federal rule requires inspection and inventory of all water service connections by October 2024. The city has roughly 6,900 service lines; staff will focus initial investigative efforts on approximately 4,825 laterals installed before the local lead ban. CDM Smith’s scope includes developing a lead service lateral inventory, identifying lateral materials, creating a replacement program, developing a sample monitoring program, assisting with public education and outreach, and ensuring data compatibility with the city’s GIS system. Staff estimated the compliance work will stretch over about three years.
Staff initially requested $309,000 for consulting but the approved budget provided $250,000. The proposed contract price is $368,500, creating a funding shortage of $118,500. Council voted unanimously to adopt the budget ordinance amendment to proceed with the consultant selection and to fund the next steps in the compliance program (motion by Jody Dixon; seconded by Ed Sain).
Wentz emphasized the Oct. 2024 compliance deadline from the EPA as the driving timeline. Council did not specify the funding source for the $118,500 shortfall at the meeting; staff indicated a budget amendment was adopted to authorize the work. Next steps include finalizing the consultant agreement and initiating the inventory and investigation work.
