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Council approves first reading of ordinance to align lead-service-line rules with new state, federal standards
Summary
The council approved on first reading Ordinance 19 to amend Aspen’s municipal code so the water utility can comply with new state and federal lead-and-copper rules; staff said about 2% of service connections initially appear to require replacement and the city will perform field verification including potholing.
Justin Foreman, Aspen’s utilities director, told the council the ordinance updates Title 25 to implement recently revised state and federal lead-and-copper rules and to give the water department tools to maintain compliance. “Only approximately 2% of all water service connections within the city system fall into a category requiring replacement based upon initial system inventory,” Foreman said, describing the city’s inventory of roughly 4,100 services.
Councilors asked how the rules treat galvanized service lines, whether the city will require replacement immediately, and who pays for verification work. Foreman and other utility staff said galvanized lines currently are treated as requiring replacement until field verification proves otherwise; the city will conduct potholing and entry inspections to verify materials and has budgeted a project for off-season verification work. Staff emphasized they will offer extensions and work with customers on timing because replacements can be costly. The council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 19 on first reading and scheduled second reading for Nov. 12.
