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Borough official relays Veolia notice on unknown service-line materials, offers free inspections
Summary
Borough staff relayed a notice from Veolia Water that some Emerson service lines are listed as 'unknown'; Veolia will inspect service lines for free and residents can submit a photo of the pipe at their water meter or complete a survey to determine if they have lead service lines.
Mr. Hermanson, a borough staff member, told the governing body on Dec. 3 that Veolia Water has been notifying customers whose service-line materials are listed as “unknown” and that receiving the notice does not mean the service line contains lead. He read a statement from Veolia saying the company is updating its inventory and offering free in‑home inspections for residents who want confirmation.
Why it matters: identifying lead service lines affects replacement planning and potential financial assistance. Mr. Hermanson said Veolia will add addresses confirmed to have lead lines into its 10‑year replacement plan (the company is currently in year three of that plan) and that residents who prefer to replace a line themselves can do so outside the utility program.
What residents were told: Mr. Hermanson read that Veolia is asking residents to help update the inventory because, “at this time, we are not sure what you have. It’s unknown.” He said Veolia will inspect the incoming service line at no charge if a customer requests an in‑home inspection and provided a phone contact as given in the statement.
Councilwoman Ashley Rice summarized Veolia’s practical instructions: fill out the survey referenced in the notice so Veolia can determine material type; if a resident is unsure whether they received the mailing or discarded it, the resident may send a photograph of the pipe at the water meter to the email Veolia provided and the company will review the photo to help determine whether a line is lead. Borough staff said they will post the Veolia contact details and guidance on the borough website.
What the council said it will do: the borough will post the Veolia instructions and contact information on emersonnj.org and direct residents to the utility for inspections. Mr. Hermanson encouraged residents with concerns to contact Veolia to schedule the free inspection.
A note on spelling and record: the meeting transcript alternated spellings; the utility referenced is Veolia Water (transcript also showed variants). The borough said it will publish the correct contact information on its website.
