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Benson hears plan for lead-service-line inventory, receives $250,000 initial SRF award
Summary
A WithersRavenel consultant told the Benson Board of Commissioners the EPA’s revised lead-and-copper rule requires an initial service-line inventory and a long compliance timeline; the town has an initial State Revolving Fund award of $250,000 to begin the work.
At its Sept. 10 meeting, the Town of Benson Board of Commissioners received a presentation from Glynn Fleming of WithersRavenel on the implications of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s revised lead-and-copper rule and the town’s plan to inventory service lines.
Fleming told the board the rule—originally drafted in the 1990s and updated in recent years—requires water systems to complete an initial inventory of all service lines and meet a series of compliance milestones over multiple years. He said the process is long-term, with an estimated seven- to ten-year window to meet the rule’s milestones, and involves both inventory work and public-notification requirements.
Kimberly Pickett, the town manager, confirmed the town’s initial funding award for the project is $250,000, noting most federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is being routed through state revolving funds. Pickett said staff are in the process of completing the initial inventory milestone.
The board heard that a service line is the physical connection between a customer and the town main and that lead or lead-containing components in those lines can contribute to elevated lead in drinking water. Fleming emphasized the inventory is a first step; subsequent work will include verification, prioritization and, where necessary, replacement planning.
Pickett told commissioners staff will use available grants and appropriations where appropriate; at the meeting she noted the town intends to use State Appropriations funds for some projects rather than taking certain SRF loans.
Next steps for the town include completing the initial inventory, meeting public-notification milestones and continuing to seek state and federal funding to support later phases of replacement and remediation. The board did not take a formal vote on policy at the meeting; the presentation was informational and staff will return with implementation details as work progresses.
