Lead Service Line Replacement Requirements Not Met for Brillion Waterworks

We are required to complete actions associated with lead service line replacement as our system experienced an action level exceedance after corrosion control treatment was installed. The requirements included removing 7% of lead service lines. We did not complete this requirement by September 30th, 2018.

What precautions should be taken at this time?
Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than 6 hours. Do not cook with, or drink water from the hot water tap.

What was the cause of the missed lead service line replacement requirement?  -  Requirement was brought to the City’s attention after budget time and no money was available.

What is being done to correct the problem?  -  Replace lead service lines to homes.  Note:  Will not eliminate lead in drinking water in homes with lead lines in the home.

When will the problem be resolved?  -  2019 / Ongoing pursuit of “0” lead service lines.

If you have questions regarding the safety of our drinking water, please contact:
Name of Responsible Person – Pete Litersky                            
Telephone Number – 920-756-2850
Street Address – 201 N. Main Street                     
City - Brillion   State Zip – WI 54110

**Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Billing Information
Water and Sewer Utilities are billed quarterly.  Public Fire Protection Service Charges are also included on the bill.  Cash, checks or money orders are accepted.  Credit and debit cards are also accepted for a fee.  Make checks payable to the Brillion Utility Commission, 201 N. Main Street, Brillion, WI  54110.

Water Utility Rates
Brillion property owners connected to the water and sewer service area are charged a quarterly service charge plus a volume charge on all bills.

Sewer Utility Rates
Brillion property owners connected to the sewer service area are charged a quarterly rate plus a volume charge on all bills.

Quarterly Public Fire Protection Service Charge
This service charge is a flat fee dictated by the size of meter servicing the property.

Facts About Sewer Backup Incidents
Sanitary sewer overflows can be caused by a number of factors.  They usually involve sewer pipe blockages in either main sewer lines or service laterals (lines between buildings and the main line).  Causes may include pipe breaks or cracks due to tree roots, system deterioration, insufficient system capacity due to residential or commercial growth, or construction mishaps.  In homes and office plumbing systems, the main cause is accumulation of grease, tree roots, hair, or solid materials, such as disposable diapers or sanitary napkins that are too large for wastewater pipes to handle.  Such materials may cause major backups in City lines as well as in residents’ lateral lines  

The following are preventive measures you can take to prevent sewage backup in your home:

• Avoid putting grease down your garbage disposal or household drain.  It can solidify, collect debris and accumulate in City lines, or build up in your own system.
• Never flush disposable diapers, sanitary napkins or paper towels down the toilet.  They could stop up your drains and may damage your plumbing system.
• If the lateral line in your older home has a jointed pipe system, consider whether the roots of large shrubs or trees near the line could invade and break pipes.  It is a good idea to know the location of your lateral line(s). 
• If the lowest level of your home is below ground level, such as a basement floor drain, it may one day be affected by a backup.  One way to prevent sewage backup through such below ground areas is to install a “back-flow valve” on the lowest drain(s).  You can also use a plumber’s test plug to close these drains when not in use.

Check with your insurance agent to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage.  The City cannot assume financial responsibility for damages resulting from sewage backups, since most stoppages are related to conditions that are beyond the City’s control.  That is why it is important that property owners confirm that they are adequately insured.

Do Your Part:
The City of Brillion is working to remove clear water from the sanitary sewer system.  Clear water in the system overloads the system.  What happens when the system can’t handle all of the flow?  Some residents experience what we would all dread, sewage flow back-up into basements.  Heavy rain events can also lead to bypassing flows, which means discharging dirty water onto the ground and into Spring Creek or the Marsh.
What can you do?

• Avoid putting grease down your garbage disposal or household drain.  It can solidify, collect debris and accumulate in City lines, or build up in your own system.
• Never flush disposable diapers, sanitary napkins or paper towels down the toilet.  They could stop up your drains and may damage your plumbing system.
• If the lateral line in your older home has a jointed pipe system, consider whether the roots of large shrubs or trees near the line could invade and break pipes.  It is a good idea to know the location of your lateral line(s). 
• If the lowest level of your home is below ground level, such as a basement floor drain, it may one day be affected by a backup.  One way to prevent sewage backup through such below ground areas is to install a “back-flow valve” on the lowest drain(s).  You can also use a plumber’s test plug to close these drains when not in use.