City-Wide Plumbing Inspections Provide Long-Term Value

March 1, 2021. Mayor and City Manager coin informational letter to city residents and customers.

Plumbing inspections by Dukes Root Control LLC. on behalf of the City of Watervliet

Dear City of Watervliet Resident and/or Water Customer:

We hope this letter finds you safe and well during these unique times. As you may be aware, the City of Watervliet (City) and/or its representatives from Dukes Root Control, Inc have been conducting plumbing inspections throughout the City. Identification of water service line material has been mandated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to protect public health and ensure water system integrity by minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking water. This is something the City takes seriously and values for the well-being of our residents and customers. These plumbing inspections come at no cost to you and will allow us to integrate and potentially complete any necessary improvements as part of future projects. Additionally, the City is also ensuring our wastewater system remains efficient by inspecting for potential roof drain and sump pump cross connections (drainage into the wastewater system vs. the storm drain system). By working with Dukes and the City, these inspections will save you, your neighbors, and all of our water and wastewater customers from unnecessary future fees while also ensuring our systems remain safe and steadfast. Regardless of when your home was built or when you were connected to the City’s water system, EGLE has made it clear that a full inventory of our water system and water service lines must be conducted.

Simply put, these inspections save money for both you and the City as a whole and will continue to ensure a safe water and efficient wastewater/storm water system.

So, why is there a need for these inspections? As a result of the Flint Water Crisis as well as other water system failures from around the state, EGLE has required any public entity with a water system to first identify and later replace any lead or galvanized previously connected to lead water service lines. Rest assured, your water is safe. The work being conducted and future water service line replacements have been mandated by EGLE to be completed over the next 20 years. The City will be paying for the entire cost of materials, labor, and planning associated with the work being completed in the future as well as any sump pump reconnections into the storm water system. In the end, this will ensure safe and more efficient systems for not only your home/building/business, but for the water, storm, and wastewater systems as well.

If you have any questions regarding the plumbing inspections or the mandate by EGLE, please don’t hesitate to reach out. If you’ve already completed your plumbing inspection, thank you! If you haven’t, Dukes or City staff will be reaching out over the course of the next few months to schedule an appointment. For more information regarding the City’s water system, a copy of the City’s most recent Water Quality Report can be found at www.watervliet.org

Thank you for your time and your assistance in keeping our systems as safe and efficient as possible.

For any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact City Manager Tyler Dotson, at 269-463-6769 or at citymanager@watervliet.org