Important information about lead in your drinking water

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can be toxic to humans and animals if ingested. It can be found in the air, soil, water, and inside of our homes.

Lead has been used in many products found around the home in the form of paint, ceramics, plumbing materials, gasoline, batteries, and cosmetics. When lead is released into the air, it can travel long distances before settling to the ground. Although the majority of lead exposure comes from sources around the home and in the environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that between 10 - 20% of lead exposure comes from drinking water.

Stoughton’s water does not have lead present when it leaves our wells and our water mains do not contain lead. However, water can be contaminated as it travels through the lead service pipes that connect some older homes to the water mains, since these service pipes can slowly corrode over time. You can easily determine if your water service line is lead by inspecting the water line entering your home from the street, usually located in the basement.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to the amount of lead that enters your drinking water, including the corosivity of the water, the temperature of the water as it passes through the pipes, and the length of time between water use while the water remains idle in the pipes. Hot water and water that has been sitting in the pipes for long periods of time are more likely to pick up contaminants from the pipes and fixtures.

Stoughton Utilities tests the drinking water each year for contaminants, including lead, to ensure that your drinking water continues to be safe to drink. In 2019, six homes returned samples that contained elevated levels of lead. The results from these tests are published yearly in a Consumer Confidence Report. Please click here to view the current Consumer Confidence Report. View the Current Map of Remaining Known Lead Service Locations

Stoughton Utilities has worked with the Stoughton Utilities Committee and the Stoughton City Council to enact a new ordinance that declares lead service lines as a public nuisance and mandates the replacement of all public and privately-owned lead service lines.

We have worked closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in an effort to obtain grant funding to replace all lead service lines in 2021. This grant was awarded to Stoughton, and allows us to replace all private lead service lines in the city at no cost to individual homeowners. Our goal is to replace 100% of lead service lines in the city prior to December 31, 2021. In preparation for our 2021 Systemwide Lead Replacement Program, Stoughton Utilities administrative staff worked with our engineering consultants to prepare a public bid to select a contractor to complete the project. The project was awarded to Five Star Energy Services.

Stoughton Utilities staff is working closely with Five Star Energy Services to coordinate the service line replacements. We are sharing the information found during the in-home service line verifications that were completed earlier in the year, which provides the contractor with the information they need to schedule replacements.

Stoughton Utilities views the elimination of lead from the public water supply as a community priority, and our efforts to do so persist during the COVID-19 pandemic, with added precautions taken for your safety and the safety of our employees. We take the threat of COVID-19 very seriously, and Stoughton Utilties technicians and Five Star Energy Service's employees will wear a face covering when entering your home and observe social distancing guidelines whenever possible. While SU and Five Star Energy Services employees are inside your home, we ask that you please follow all CDC recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including wearing a face covering and maintaining social distancing. Homeowners that have lead service lines will be contacted by the construction contractor in the upcoming months to schedule the replacement. The contractor will require access to the home's basement during the replacement process, and water service will be unavailable until the replacement is complete. Typically, the service line replacement will require modifications to the plumbing inside the property's basement.

All residents of the city may be impacted by the project as roads are temporarily narrowed or closed during the work day while the new service lines are connected to the water main under the street. We do not predict any overnight road closures or long-term detours. Roads will be kept open whenever traffic can travel safely without being impacted by street excavation and without creating unsafe conditions for work crews.

This page will be regularly updated with project updates and information about our progress towards completion. We look forward to having a 100% lead-free drinking water system by the end of 2021!