MTA has worked with other local government organizations and related groups to establish training seminars around the state for public water supplies to better understand the new rule and how it will be implemented. This joint training effort provides an opportunity for township officials and operations staff to learn what is required under the new rule and the potential impact on your community.
Training sessions are scheduled for the upcoming weeks that are FREE to MTA township members. The dates and locations are listed below with additional information on the MTA website. You can register for the event nearest you:
Date
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Location
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October 30 - Ann Arbor
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Weber’s Inn, 3050 Jackson Ave.
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November 1 - Detroit
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SEMCOG’s office, 1001 Woodward Ave., Suite 1400
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November 8 - Grand Rapids
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Grand Valley State University, LV Eberhard Center – Room 210, 301 West Fulton
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November 13 - Marshall
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Schuler’s Restaurant, 115 S. Eagle Street
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Included in the overall changes to the rule is a requirement for all public water supplies to replace at their expense lead service lines over a 20-year timeframe—coming at a staggering cost to local units. Because this requirement includes private lead service lines, MTA raised concerns during a stakeholder process that the new rule conflicts with the 1998 Michigan Supreme Court decision in Bolt vs. City of Lansing and the state Constitution. While those concerns were recognized during discussions, they were never addressed in the final rule.
Also under the new rule, the current lead action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) was reduced to 12 ppb beginning Jan. 1, 2025—with no science-based risk assessment. Water supplies must also complete a preliminary distribution system materials inventory by Jan. 1, 2020 with a verified inventory due by Jan. 1, 2025. Numerous other changes were made, including sampling and education requirements and the establishment of state and local advisory councils—all of which will all be discussed during the training seminars.
The training events are sponsored by MTA, along with the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Chapter of the American Public Works Association, Michigan Rural Water Association, Michigan Chapter of the American Works Association and Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.
For townships with a public water supply system, attendance at one of these events should prove to be invaluable.