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Water Department outlines PFAS, lead service-line program and modest 3% rate increase
Summary
Water Director Chris Lester presented a FY2027 budget that includes a proposed 3% water rate increase, a $1.345M SCADA upgrade, plans for a new deep well (~$6.5M) and a GAC filter rehabilitation (~$11M) to address PFAS, and continuation of the lead service line replacement program funded partly by federal grants.
Water Department Director Chris Lester presented the department’s FY2027 budget and highlighted investments intended to sustain water quality and regulatory compliance while preparing for federal Lead and Copper Rule requirements.
Lester noted the department operates 24/7 with 27 employees and serves roughly 24,000 customers over a distribution system of more than 330 miles. The department has initiated a proactive meter interface unit replacement program targeting approximately 5,000 MIU replacements annually to manage aging equipment and avoid warranty gaps.
Staff described the SCADA upgrade contract awarded to Westfall & Company for $1.345 million, with fiber installations to 17 remote sites and scheduled completion in September to improve performance and cybersecurity.
Responding to PFAS detection concerns, staff presented two primary mitigation paths: advancing a new deep well (estimated cost approximately $6.5 million) designed to draw from a PFAS-free long-term source, and rehabilitating 17 gravity filters at the plant to incorporate granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment (estimated ~$11 million). Lester said the city will pursue State Revolving Fund financing and apply settlement funds (approx. $3.5M expected from national litigation rounds) and potential forgivable SRF portions to reduce the local burden.
The department reported Phase 1 of the private lead service line replacement program replaced 133 customer-owned lines using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. Future phases plan to remove roughly 400 more private lines this summer, and the city estimates ~3,900 private lead service lines remain that must be addressed by the federal Lead and Copper Rule deadline of Nov. 1, 2037. Lester described a voluntary-first approach using low-interest SRF loans initially, transitioning to mandatory replacement as required by the rule.
Water proposed a 3% rate increase for FY27 (about $1.26 monthly for the average household using ~3,200 gallons), intended to sustain operations and fund ongoing capital needs. The department also reported non-revenue water at ~19.5% in FY25 (down from 20.5% in FY24) and said future SCADA, district metering and leak-detection work will improve accountability.
Council and public questions covered comparisons to peer-city rates, homeowner consent for lead line work (staff explained a requirement to document multiple outreach attempts and the processes for homeowner refusal), and the availability of grant/forgivable funding to offset major PFAS-related capital costs. Staff directed residents to an interest/consent form on the City of Dubuque website to participate in lead replacement phases.
