First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky sent an email Friday to the public that discusses the Aquarion Water Company announcement about potential contamination from lead and other substances in customer-owned pipes bringing water into their homes or businesses.
In the email, sent Friday, Zagrodzky said he expects to send more emails on various subjects every other Friday, in between issues of the Town of Darien newsletter. The First Selectman also published this video on the subject:
In the video, Zagrodzky says that letters from Aquarion have gone out to water customers when the utility doesn’t have information on the service lines that bring water to individual homes or businesses. For those who did not receive the letter, the utility didn’t send out emails because it already has a record of what material is in the service lines of those customers.
Zagrodzky also said:
Utilities are mandated by the federal government to send out the notices for these customers. In 13 years, the service lines will need to be replaced or otherwise made safe, under the federal rules. The letters will be mailed each November.
To make them safe, customers will need to get their service pipes tested, and if hazardous materials are found, they should hire a plumber or contractor to deal with that. Government grants are also available to customers to pay or help pay the costs, but that’s mostly for distressed communities.
“Make sure you know exactly what you’re dealing with,” Zagrodzky said “Get some testing.”
Lead and other hazardous materials are much more likely to be in service lines for homes and business buildings built before 1930, Zagrodzky said, and most of the letters from Aquarion are going to those customers.
Zagrodzky invited anyone in Darien with questions about the situation to get in touch with him. His Town Hall office phone number is 203-656-7338.
First Selectman’s Email
Full text:
Our Town newsletter has been a bi-weekly publication for a while. Starting today, I will be sending a “First Selectman” edition on alternate Fridays, so you will now be receiving news from Town Hall on a weekly basis.
My intent will be to focus on specific issues, constituent questions or just things rolling around in my mind. In addition, we may have general Town news that shouldn’t wait until the following Friday (like we do this week – see below).
My topic today is the letter you may have received from Aquarion (the press release below has details). More than 4,500 such letters went out, with information about water service lines and potential lead contamination. There is no reason for alarm; Aquarion was required to send these notices due to regulatory changes.
The vast majority of letter recipients simply have service lines of unknown materials. Here is the breakdown from Aquarion:
• Lead: 20
• Galvanized: 108
• Unknown: 4,407
I have tried to explain everything in this video, including what you should do next if you received one of these letters. Please take a look, and call or email me with questions.
As a reminder, Jim Cameron at TV79 has launched a new series called, “Ask the First Selectman.” If you have a question you would like me to cover in an upcoming video, please email DarienTV79@gmail.com. Previous videos can be viewed on the TV79 website.
The Aquarion News Release
Full text:
Aquarion Water Company Launches Online Inventory to Help Customers Identify Water Service Line Materials
Bridgeport, Conn. – October 31, 2024 – Aquarion Water Company recently announced that it has launched an online inventory of service lines for its public water systems across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire service territories at www.aquarionwater.com. The initiative, which is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), lists the known or unknown material type on both the Aquarion-owned and the customer-owned side of the water service line. This inventory provides customers with important information about their service line materials. Customers are responsible for the portion of the service line from the curb valve, which is usually near the property line, to their home or business.
In addition to creating the Service Line Inventory and making it available online, Aquarion is mailing letters to all customers whose service lines contain lead, are galvanized, or contain unknown material. Customers who have unknown material on the customer-owned side of their service line can verify and report the material by taking Aquarion’s service line survey at www.aquarionwater.com/leadsurvey. Although Aquarion’s distribution systems do not contain lead, service line materials and customers’ interior plumbing can impact lead concentrations in the home. All Aquarion public water systems are in compliance for lead concentrations.
If a customer’s service line requires replacement, Aquarion’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program (LSLRP) offers various options for replacing a lead service line and programs that may help reduce the cost of replacement.
Further information about the health impacts of lead and steps residents can take to reduce their risk of exposure can be found at www.aquarionwater.com/lead or in Aquarion’s annual water quality reports at www.aquarionwater.com/waterqualityreports.
Customers with questions about their service line can contact Aquarion’s Customer Service Center at 866-728-5023.
About Aquarion Water Company:
Aquarion Water Company is the public water supply company for more than 750,000 people in 72 cities and towns in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It is the largest investor-owned water utility in New England and among the seven largest in the U.S. Based in Bridgeport, CT, Aquarion has been in the public water supply business since 1857. Across its operations, Aquarion strives to act as a responsible steward of the environment and to assist the communities it serves in promoting sustainable practices. Aquarion Water Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eversource.
For more information on Aquarion Water Company, please visit www.aquarionwater.com or www.facebook.com/aquarionwater.