The City of Seminole is sending out letters to approximately 300 residents whose water service lines may be impacted by galvanized pipe.

A public hearing has been scheduled during the city council meeting Tuesday evening to address the letters and what they mean.

“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent a ruling in October for cities and towns across the United States to begin an inventory of locations that may be impacted by lead,” said Steve Saxon, City Manager. “The city has completed the inventory, and we have found no lead from the water source (towers or water wells) to the individual meters.”

The issue for homeowners may be the presence of galvanized pipe serving residences.

“The zinc used to galvanize the pipe may encapsulate lead particles that might have been used upstream in years past,” said Public Works Director Bryant Baker.

Baker said out of the more than 3,000 meters, less than 300 private service connections were shown to have the galvanized pipe.

A private service connection is the line that leaves the meter and services the residence. This line is the responsibility of the property owner.

EPA came out with a final rule on lead-free water lines in October 2024, and has information on the galvanized pipe on their website.

“Our main goal at this point is to make sure the public has correct and factual information, and where to find that information,” said Saxon.

The public is invited to attend the hearing, scheduled to take place during the Seminole City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14. It will be held at the Goldie Barnett Conference Room at the Seminole Public Library, 424 N. Main.