Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to implement and execute a limited Lead Service Line Replacement Pilot Program and to perform, or cause to be performed, work on private property outside of the public right-of-way in support of the Pilot Program.
Under the authority provided in the Ohio Constitution, the Ohio Revised Code, and the City of Columbus Charter, the City provides drinking water through its service lines and can permit and install water connections. The City’s public water system is subject to regulation by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates lead service lines in public water systems through the Lead and Copper Rule at 40 CFR 141 Subpart I, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regulates lead service lines in the public water systems through Ohio Administrative Code §§3745-81-80 through 3745-81-90.
The water distribution system is comprised of service lines owned by the City on the public side, and by individual property owners on the private side. The public side includes the part of the service line installed within the public right-of-way, and the private side includes the part of the service line running from the end of the public right-of-way to the structure on the property. 40 CFR 141 Subpart A defines a lead service line that is owned by the water system, owned by the property owner, or owned by both to include a galvanized service line if the galvanized service line ever was or is currently downstream of any lead service line or a service line of unknown material. The City excluded lead as an approved material for service lines in 1963. However, lead service lines currently exist in both the public and private side of the City service lines due to installation prior to the exclusion. The public health and safety is endangered by the inges...
Click here for full text