Project Overview
The City of Pipestone, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Bolton & Menk, Inc. (BMI), plan to complete a water service replacement project starting in 2026 and ending in Year Construction is scheduled to be phased between XX and XX. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Health are requiring communities to document all lead and galvanized water lines in their system. It is also expected that these lead and galvanized services will need to be replaced over a 10-year span.
Communications will be going out to all properties who have been identified to have lead or galvanized water service lines either through past construction, old records, or by visual inspection. Currently, there is funding available through the Minnesota Department of Health to help remove lead and galvanized water service lines. This funding will cover all external costs of replacing water service lines from the property line to the meter in the house. Interior finished work such as woodwork, tiling, carpeting, drywall, painting, etc. is not expected to be covered by the grant. Interior finished work is less common where water service lines enter a home. While funding benefits residents, it must go through the city’s public water system. For this reason, Pipestone has partnered with Bolton & Menk, Inc., to help offer this grant opportunity to you.
frequently asked questions
Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the Lead Service Line Replacements Project. For additional information, check out the “What to Expect” section below.
The water service material going to your property has been identified as either lead or galvanized pipe by one of the following ways:
- past construction;
- old records, and/or
- visual inspection from prior years’ inventory or meter changeout projects.
Currently, over XX water service replacements are scheduled to be included in this project.
Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, interfere with the production of red blood cells and has been linked to lower IQ in children. Lead can be stored in the bones and released during pregnancy to the fetus, or later in life causing additional health problems.
Visit the following website to learn more about the effects of lead: https://www.health.mn.gov/communities/environment/water/factsheet/letitrun_english.html
As of now, the State has funding available to cover the cost of replacing any identified lead or galvanized pipes. The funding is only available through your public water system. By participating in this project, your service will be replaced with all or much of the cost covered by grant dollars.
Sign and return the Water Service Line Replacement Agreement with your contact information on it.
Bolton & Menk or Contractor Name will reach out to schedule a time to perform an onsite visit to inspect your property and answer any questions you may have regarding the replacement.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to require all lead and galvanized services to be replaced within a 10-year span. Minnesota has a statewide goal to identify and replace all lead service lines by 2033.
If you choose not to participate, you may be required to replace your lead or galvanized service at your own expense later when funding is no longer available.
The City of Pipestone has hired Contractor Name to complete the replacement project. Bolton & Menk will be working as the city’s resident project representative during the construction process. Additional contractors, plumbers, or electricians may be hired to help with construction.
The project consists of both public (city street) and private property replacement of the water service line.
If the water service lines leading up to your property is identified as being either lead or galvanized water service lines, we will replace the lines into your home, up to the water meter. This project cannot address lead pipes after the meter. Any pipe replacement past the meter will be the property owner’s responsibility.
Yes, Contractor Name or Bolton & Menk will not enter your home without you being present. These contractors will coordinate with you in advance of when your service is planned to be replaced.
No, only plumbing work required to replace the lead service pipe up to the water meter is permitted.
Each property will be unique, but generally the contractor will be using a trenchless method of service line installation.
There will be occasional water shutdowns throughout this project. If your property is affected by a water shutdown, you will be notified at least one day before it occurs. These shutdowns usually take less than 4 hours.
Emergency shutdowns may occur as well. This would be an unplanned shutdown due to unforeseen circumstances. In these rare situations, notice will not be provided, and Contractor Name will work diligently to address the issue and get the water turned back on as soon as possible.
Overall, water shutdowns should be minimal on this project.
Yes, but outside disturbance will vary depending on the location of your service line.
Concrete sidewalks and driveways removed as a part of the project will be replaced as a part of the project.
Yards will be restored with salvaged topsoil and new sod. Any landscaped pavers on private property that need to be disturbed will be salvaged and reinstalled as part of the project costs. Any landscape rock or mulch on private property that needs to be disturbed will be salvaged and reinstalled as part of the project cost. Any retaining walls on private property that need to be disturbed will be salvaged and reinstalled as part of the project cost.
Please let Contractor Name know of any buried private utilities such as dog fences and irrigation lines. Any dog fences and irrigation lines disturbed within the public right of way will be at the expense of the homeowner. Any dog fences and irrigation lines disturbed on private property will be fixed or replaced as part of the project cost.
Inside disturbances will also vary depending on the property, service line location, and finishes. In most situations the water services enter homes into an unfinished room in the basement or crawl space. Minimal disturbance will occur in this situation. The water service either enters through the foundation wall or comes up out of the floor. If the service comes up out of the unfinished floor, Contractor Name will cut an approximately 3′ by 3′ opening to run the new pipe through. This opening will be restored with concrete and covered as part of the project cost.
If carpet or other flooring is on top of the concrete floor where the water service enters through the floor, the contractor will replace the opening with concrete still as part of the project cost. The carpet or other flooring will need to be replaced by the property owner. Other installation methods will be reviewed in scenarios like this to reduce the amount of disturbance.
If the service comes through the foundation wall, the contractor will either remove the old service line and run the new 1″ PE pipe through the opening, or they will come through the floor. Whatever provides the least amount of disturbance. Any costs related to restoration of drywall or finishings will not be included in this project. If this scenario occurs, Contractor Name will do their best to minimize disturbance. It will be up to the property owner to coordinate and pay for this type of restoration.
Check back with this website to learn more about the project. You may also sign up for email updates to stay informed on the latest updates.
Updates regarding individual water service replacements will not take place from this website. Contractor Name and Bolton & Menk will be reaching out to property owners individually when it comes to replacing your particular water service.
What to expect
In addition to the Frequently Asked Questions, you may have additional questions on how this project will be constructed. Below outlines an estimated process that will take place from now until construction is completed.
Communication Outreach
- Informational letters will be mailed to property owners included in the project between Date – Date. These letters provide an overview of the project and an invite to an informational meeting for that project area. There will be three informational meetings held, one for each of the three project areas.
- Also enclosed with the informational letter will be a Water Service Replacement Agreement. This form will be the legal document to access your property and replace your lead or galvanized service as a part of this project. The agreement will need to be signed before work can begin.
Informational Meeting
- An informational meeting will be held by Bolton & Menk, in partnership with Contractor Name, to discuss the project in more detail.
- Based off feedback from the meeting, the project design will be finalized and submitted in Date to the Minnesota Department of Health for their review.
Property Owner Coordination
- While the plan is being reviewed, Contractor Name and BMI would like to meet with you at your residence.
- The site visit will consist of the following:
- The contractor will review and take photos of where your water service line comes into your home.
- The contractor will discuss the water service line replacement agreement, if not already complete.
- The contractor will answer any outstanding questions you may have.
- The project has been divided into X areas of the city. Informational meetings will be held for each of the project areas.
- Property owners will need to sign a water service line replacement agreement.
- Property owners will be contacted by Contractor Name to obtain approvals to access their property and gather existing information.
- This is anticipated to start in Date and continue into Date.
Construction
- As part of the construction project, Contractor Name will replace any identified lead or galvanized pipes from outside the house to the meter inside of the home. The extent of replacement outside of the home will vary dependent on how much lead or galvanized pipe currently exists.
- Service line replacements will take place on the public side from the main to the curb stop or on the private/customer side from the curb stop to the meter inside the home.
- Some locations will require full replacement to the watermain in the street. This situation will occur for properties that have not been part of a recent street reconstruction project.
- While unlikely, some locations may need the water meter to be relocated to accommodate construction.
- Each property will be unique, but in general, the contractor intends to perform all the private service work using a trenchless method of construction. This method requires some open-cut of the yard, but it is limited to the connection points. The rest of the service line should be installed without disturbing the site; disturbances may vary based on actual site conditions.
- Due to the nature of this construction, each property will have the water service shutoff for some time. The contractor will notify property owners and work with you to minimize the length of water service disruption.
- There will be a two-year project warranty for the pipe installation after being installed.
