Cedarburg Light & Water Utility is working hard to keep our community safe and healthy, including keeping our customers informed about lead water service pipes throughout the City, Frequently Asked Questions about lead water service lines and our Lead Service Line Replacement Program to help customers with lead service water lines on their property.
Lead is not found in Cedarburg's source water. Lead found in Cedarburg's drinking water comes from water service lines running from the water main in the road to individual homes and businesses, and from plumbing inside the home. Lead was a common construction material prior to 1955. Copper pipe with lead solder was banned from use in 1987. The EPA first issued rules about lead and copper in 1991, which set a goal for allowable lead contamination in drinking water at zero but set a level where entities are required to act at 15 parts per billion. Updates to the Lead and Copper Rule in 2021 prompted new efforts to identify and remove lead in drinking water systems across the country. Further drinking water rules introduced by the EPA in 2023 suggested a timeline of 10 years to replace all water service lines made of lead or galvanized steel. With this in mind, the City of Cedarburg passed Ordinance No. 2024-01, requiring the removal and replacement of both the utility-owned (public) and customer-owned (private) lead service water lines and Ordinance No. 2024-02 to assist with the cost of private side lead service line replacement.
Cedarburg Light & Water Utility is committed to keeping you informed about this project. We will provide regular updates at utility commission meetings and customer questions are always welcome. Please contact our Water Superintendent, Tim Martin, at 262-375-7650.