Mayor issues notice on EPA ruling

A new rule from the Environmental Protection Agency will require water systems to replace lead and galvanized water service lines within the next 10 years. Installing new lead pipes has been banned since 1986, but the EPA states that homes and businesses are still served by lead service lines installed before the ban was instituted.

Town of Thermopolis Mayor, Adam R. Estenson, recently issued a letter regarding the EPA ruling. The letter and a “Notice of Unknown Service Line Material” notice was recently mailed to Town of Thermopolis residents.

Mayor Estenson states in the letter that he wants to address the Town’s current efforts to complete a federally mandated inventory survey of property-owned water service lines, as outlined in § 141.84 of Title 40 in the federal codes.

He explains that the survey of property owned service lines is to determine lead lines within the town.

The letter states “The notification enclosed is required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for any lead or galvanized service lines and service lines that have not completed the service lines inventory. We understand that certain language in these communications may be concerning, and we want to emphasize that while we are fully committed to compliance, we do not necessarily endorse all aspects of the wording in the EPA’s required notices.”

Mayor Estenson also states in the letter “For years, Thermopolis has invested in safeguarding our water quality by spending between $500 and $1,000 each month to test our drinking water. I’m pleased to report that these consistent efforts have kept us well within - and often exceeding - safe drinking water standards, including lead and copper. This proactive approach reflects our ongoing dedication to the health and well-being of our community.”

He goes on to explain that the focus of this project is to determine property-owned lead service lines within the system. “As we gather accurate data over the next six months with the help of our public works crew, we anticipate that fewer property owners will receive these EPA notifications moving forward.”

Mayor Estenson added, “It’s also our understanding that the State of Wyoming may soon distribute federal funds for lead remediation, which would assist in replacing any identified property-owned lead lines. By completing this inventory proactively, we can improve our chances of securing these funds, potentially reducing costs for property owners in our town.”

If you have questions or concerns about the survey, Jim Jeunehomme is the Town of Thermopolis water system contact person. He can be reached at 864-9285 or by email at jjeunehomme@thermopoliswy.gov

“We are committed to supporting our community as we work through this process,” added Mayor Estenson.