Water Utility
Private Lead Service Line Replacement Program
Racine Water Utility’s water quality, including sampling for lead, meets or exceeds all Federal and State drinking water quality standards.
- RWU’s most recent Lead and Copper (LCRR) sampling included collecting water samples at 102 residences with our 90th percentile of 5.0 ppb, below the current action of 15 ppb. (Lead and Copper Rule | US EPA)
RWU has over 11,326 service lines that are made of lead, galvanized or unknown material type. RWU will continue to verify this information.
- RWU is working on an interactive service line map that will be made public in Spring 2025.
- If you’re curious about more information on your water service (material type, size, age), please utilize RWU’s public service inventory mapping system at:
Racine Water Utility Public LCRR
RWU has been replacing lead service lines since the Fall of 2016 and increasing our efforts to remove lead service lines.
- RWU is also working on a comprehensive multi-year plan for replacement of all lead services lines, with the goal of completing this endeavor by 2037.
- You will be notified for further action as lead service line replacements are planned in your neighborhood.
RWU is continually updating our service line inventory and are now required to annually notify customers served by lead, galvanized or unknown material types.
The Utility can offer sampling for total lead and copper in water at individual houses as part of our Lead and Copper Rule Compliance sampling. This sampling can not be guaranteed though as sampling locations and amount of samples collected vary. If interested in participating in this sampling, please call our laboratory at (262) 636-9441 to be placed on a list for future sampling locations.
- If you wish to have your water tested sooner than part of our compliance sampling, we’d recommend you using these laboratories:
- Northern Lake Service, Inc. – (800) 278-1254
- Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene – (800) 442-4518
- Davy Laboratories – (608) 782-3130
If lead is present in your drinking water, if you have pipes or plumbing fixtures that contain lead, or if you don’t know the material type, you should take steps to minimize potential lead exposure until all sources of lead have been removed. Flush your pipes before using any tap water for drinking or cooking. Run the water until it the temperature changes and then allow it to run for an additional two minutes. Use only cold water for drinking and cooking. Filter your water before drinking and cooking until all sources of lead have been removed. This includes water used for making infant formula, beverages, and ice.
Water is essentially lead free when it leaves the Washington Aqueduct treatment plant. It can enter drinking water from the corrosion of lead pipes and plumbing materials that contain lead. Sources of lead in drinking water:
Lead service pipes– In the District, lead service pipes were installed until the mid-1950s. Older properties may still have lead service pipes, which connect the water main in the street to household plumbing.
Lead solder– Solder is the material that connects pipes in household plumbing. In 1987, lead solder was banned from use in household plumbing. If your house was built before 1987, your plumbing may have lead solder.
Brass faucets, valves or fittings– Almost all faucets, valves and fittings have brass components. Until 2014, brass faucets and fittings sold in the U.S. and labeled “lead-free” could contain up to eight percent lead. Effective January 2014, the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act specifies that these materials may not contain more than 0.25 percent lead.
Galvanized iron pipes-Galvanized iron pipes were installed in many homes before the 1960s. These pipes can release lead in water if the property has, or previously had, a lead service pipe. Galvanized pipes are made with a protective layer of zinc. However, the zinc layer erodes over time and results in corrosion. When lead is released from a lead service pipe and passes through galvanized plumbing, lead can accumulate on the walls of the galvanized iron pipes.
Water Main Construction
Replacing a water main consists of several phases. In the first phase, the contractor will set up traffic control signs and barrels and may partially close the road. Around the same time, the contractor will also saw cut the pavement to make way for the new water main trench. Materials and supplies will also be delivered around the same time, and are typically placed in the curb area or in the parkway in front of the sidewalk.
In the next phase, the contractor will begin actual construction by digging a trench and installing new pipe, new valves, and new hydrants. Each trench portion is back filled as soon as the new pipe is installed, allowing customers to access their driveways as soon as possible. The new water main is then tested, a process which typically takes one or two weeks to complete.
Once the new water main has passed its testing, the homes and buildings are then connected onto the new pipe. If your home has a lead water service, the Utility will typically replace a portion of the lead service with new copper material. More information on lead services can be found further along in this FAQ.
The final phase is street restoration work, where the contractor will place asphalt or concrete over the trench and open the street up to traffic. The contractor will also restore grass, sidewalk, and other disturbed areas at this time.
Residents will be delivered a construction notification handout, which is typically delivered door to door several weeks prior to construction. The construction notification will have further information on when each particular project will begin.
Generally speaking, you can expect to see construction off and on for at least 3 weeks.
Most projects will involve the closing of several lanes or roads near the project location; there is a good chance that you will be affected by these closures. Apart from street closures, your water service may also be turned off as the Utility makes water pipe connections, and also as it installs new water service tubing to your building.
If the project is a water main replacement, then the entire project is paid for by the Utility, funded by water rates. This is the case 99% of the time. So if you or your landlord are getting Water bills in the mail, then there is no charge for the water main replacement.
If the project is a new water main extension, placing water main where there was none before, then you will likely be charged for your share of the improvement. If this is the case, you will be contacted by the City or Village months prior to any actual construction.
The contractor will likely close the road to through traffic as the work is being performed. However, you will still be able to drive into the work zone and access your driveway. The contractor will work with you to move equipment as needed should they be blocking your way. However, there may be a short time (1-2 hours) as the contractor is working directly in front of your home or building where your driveway will not be accessible. Please be patient and plan ahead, and do not be afraid to talk to the contractor should they be in your way.
Street parking is typically prohibited in the construction area.
The Utility owns and maintains the water service from the water main in the street to the curb stop valve, which is typically located a few feet off of the sidewalk / property line. If your service is lead, galvanized iron, or steel, the Utility will replace this section with new copper tubing and will also install a new curb stop valve. If your service is already copper or plastic, the Utility will simply reconnect the existing copper tubing to the new water main in the street.
The remaining portion of the service, from the curb stop valve to the meter in the building, is the responsibility of the property owner. The curb stop valve itself is the responsibility of the Utility.
The best way to tell is to look at the tubing where it enters your basement, typically through the wall near the floor or through the floor itself. Do not hesitate to call the Utility at 262-636-9533 for information or assistance regarding your service material type.
The Utility encourages you to replace your portion of lead, galvanized iron, or steel service with new copper or plastic tubing at the time of construction. Again, your portion of service runs between the curb stop valve in the sidewalk and the meter inside the building. Replacing this portion is optional and would be at your cost.
The Utility is not responsible for the condition of your service when we connect the new curb stop valve to it. Sometimes, the old lead, galvanized iron, or steel service will leak weeks, months, or even years after the connection is made. Should this happen, the property owner would be responsible to make repairs.
Replacing your section of lead, galvanized iron, or steel service during construction would be both proactive and economical, as the area near the building will already be dug and exposed as the Utility’s contractor installs a new curb stop valve. You will have to hire your own plumber to replace your portion of the lead service – the Utility’s contractor will not perform any side work for property owners.
There are two types of water outages. The first type will occur as the contractor makes connections between existing water mains and new water mains. This outage will last for approximately 4 to 6 hours. The Utility will notify you 1 to 2 days prior to these shutdowns via door-to-door flyers.
The second type will occur as each home’s water service tubing is reconnected to the new water main. This will happen to homes and building where the new water main crosses directly in front of the property. Expect to be out of water for between 60 and 90 minutes as this work is done. The contractor will knock on your door to notify you before they make the water service connection.
It would be a good idea to store some water and put it aside for drinking or for flushing of toilets. You should also make sure to not have your dish washer or clothes washer running as the water is to be shut off. Aside from that, you will not need to do anything to your property in anticipation of the water shutdown. After your water is turned back on, you may notice some discolored water or air in the line. This can be remedied by running your water for a good 10 or 15 minutes immediately after the water is turned back on. The best places to flush would be through an outside spigot or wash basin. Make sure the water is clean and clear of any discoloration before washing any laundry.
First, unscrew the faucet screens and make sure they are not clogged. Sometimes, sediment from inside the building’s piping breaks loose when the water is turned off and on, and may clog these screens. If the screens are not clogged, and if the low water pressure problem is throughout your building, contact the Water Utility at 262-636-9185.
Flush cold water out of several faucets at the same time, letting the water run for 10 or 15 minutes. If the water does not clear up, contact the Water Utility at 262-636-9185.
The Contractor will often finish construction at one location, move to a second location and finish that work, and then perform restoration work for both locations at the same time, so it may take several weeks before the contractor finishes up restoring and cleaning up the workplace. If you see something that is unsafe, such as a tripping hazard or deep rut or hole, please contact Jeff Guttenberg of the Racine Water Utility at 262-636-9187, or at jeff.guttenberg@cityofracine.org
Storm Water Fee
Storm water maintaince is designed to prevent runoff pollution from entering bodies of water. Storm Water Utilities were authorized by the State several years ago and the associated fees go towards infrastructure maintenance. Maintenance of storm water infrastructure includes: repairing storm water sewers, fixing storm water inlets (catch basins), maintaining storm water ponds (dry and wet), street sweeping, leaf collection, keeping sediment out of rivers, streams and lakes. Maintenance of storm water manholes and cleaning sediment from storm water manholes is an activity that is also funded by this fee. Maintaining storm water in Wisconsin is important and Cities have defined criteria to achieve compliance with rigid and stringent state water quality standards. Maintenance of ditches and/or concrete curb lines are funded by the storm water fee as they both transport storm water to storm sewers and rivers and the lake.
Calculations are performed using aerial photography and land surveys. The more impervious land that a parcel has, the more storm water that will be generated from that parcel. Property with open grass fields will pay less than a property that is paved with concrete. Properties with storm water ponds will get credits on their fee for cleaning and retaining storm water on their property for longer periods of time.
The storm water fee is not new. Residents used to pay the storm water fee on their property tax bill (along with other fees, such as the Recycling fee) but the fee was migrated from the property tax bill to the water bill in the last City budget. If you are a city resident who pays a property tax bill, or a business or even a tax-exempt non-profit that that owns property, you typically have received a property tax bill that contains at least the city fees, which would have included the storm water fee. Again, the storm water fee no longer appears on the property tax bill, it appears on the Water Utility bill.
The Common Council approved moving the storm water fee from the property tax bill to the water bill in this year’s City budget. Most Cities include the storm water fee on their water bills. The fee goes towards improving and maintaining the City’s storm water infrastructure.
Formerly this was collected once annually on the property’s tax bill. In 2019, the fee will be divided up into equal installments, and it will be collected 3 times on your quarterly water bill or 9 times on your monthly water bill. In 2020 it will be collected 4 times on your quarterly water bill or 12 times on your monthly water bill.
Yes. As adopted in the 2019 budget, for a typical residential, single family home in the City, the storm water rate is $123.77 annually. This is a quarterly increase of $5.38 from the previous year.
Every land parcel in the City limits is assigned and calculated a fee. Whether it is a vacant lot, or a commercial building with a large parking lot. There exists a formal process to challenge your fee. For example, if you think that installing a rain garden or pond on your property has changed your situation, you should call the Department of Public Works at 262-636-9192.
Talk to your landlord and review your lease.
If you are a renter you should talk to your landlord. In previous years the storm water fee was part of the property tax bill paid for by the property owner. Discuss your responsibilities with your landlord.
Storm water has always been collected on the property tax bill until this year. Consult your lease and have a discussion with your tenant and work out a plan of who should pay. Remember, that if you fail to pay the fee it will end up on the property tax bill just like other unpaid water and sewer charges.
The Council’s action requires that everyone who gets a water bill should also get a storm water bill. Talk to the owner of the property about your lease and your responsibilities.
If you have other general questions about the storm water fee please call 262-636-9192.
Public Fire Protection (PFP)
PFP is a category to which the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) assigns certain regional assets for the utility to provide large volumes of water for a fire. This might includelarger-than-necessary water mains, increased size of pumps at booster stations, and larger volumes at water towers and tanks, as well as fire hydrants for firefighting.
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) oversees 525 public water utilities in the State of Wisconsin. They review financials and set water rates for utilities such as the Racine Water Utility. The last water rate order was issued in 2017 and set a revenue requirement of $22,000,000. Of that amount, $3.2 million was allocated to Public Fire Protection (PFP) revenue.
The direct charge method varies with size of the water meter. The PSC establishes a rate table based up the water meter size used by each customer. Customers with a smaller meter pay a lesser charge. Customers with a larger meter pay a larger charge.
93% of the retail water customers have small meters of about 5/8 inch and ¾ inch diameter. The PSC has determined that the fee for these small meters would be set at $68.76 per year. This would be invoiced at $17.19 per quarter for retail residential customers.
There are about 35,000 customer accounts between Racine, Mt Pleasant, Sturtevant, Elmwood Park, North Bay and Somers.
