The City of Webster City continues to investigate reports of pinhole leaks in copper pipes. We have been in communication with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Iowa Rural Water Association (IRWA). At this time the city’s contracted engineering firm, Bolton and Menk, is reviewing environmental conditions, periodic reporting and testing information of the city’s municipal water system that is submitted to the DNR. Bolton and Menk are also reaching out to other experts across the country who have researched similar occurrences in other communities in an effort to help identify the cause(s) and source(s) of the anomaly our community is going through.
The DNR has advised the city that it is meeting all safe drinking water standards. Webster City’s municipal water supply is regulated by the DNR and required to continuously meet all safe drinking water standards. The City is required to report to the DNR within 48 hours of any violation of the drinking water regulations. In the event that the City of Webster City fails to meet the safe drinking water standards the DNR will require corrective actions. In the event of an actual or imminent hazard the DNR will require immediate corrective action. Currently the city is not under any corrective action. We continue to communicate with the DNR regarding the pin hole leaks in copper piping. They have acknowledged the city is following the appropriate steps they would have recommended to evaluate this anomaly and will continue to monitor the matter.
We would like to thank residents and property owners that have called in to report pin hole leaks in their copper piping. The information has been helpful in determining the locations throughout the community this issue is occurring in. Our engineers and the DNR is interested in learning more details regarding each reported location. The city will be working towards obtaining additional details of each location to share with Bolton and Menk and the DNR as they assess possible causes. We sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate this together.
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Last modified: October 18, 2021