Frequently Asked Questions

The City has created a map for residents to look up their address to determine if they have been identified as having a lead service line, a galvanized steel service, or is of unknown material according to City records. The map can be found under Address Look-Up.

Additionally, the City has the Lead Service Line Homeowner Flyer, which will assist in helping you determine your service material.

Yes, the City is sending letters to notify residents, including landlords (when applicable), in phases. The letter will be sent to any residential property that has been identified as having a lead service line, a galvanized steel service, or is of unknown material according to City records. The City’s Phasing Plan map shows Phases 1 through 5, with Phase 1 on the west side of town.

This project will be completed in five phases over a multi-year period. Each phase is designed and anticipated to take a year, with work beginning in spring of each respective year. Please refer to the phase map to see what phase your home will be completed in. The City will be sending informational letters prior to any phase starting, giving general information and next steps.

The City of Kearney will send an initial letter to inform you that your property has been identified for an upcoming lead service line replacement.

After we receive the signed Service Agreement, an onsite visit/inspection will be scheduled for you, City of Kearney and the contractor to review the replacement process in detail and set a date and time for the work to take place. Most service lines can be replaced within four to eight hours. An adult over the age of 18 must be present during the replacement work, since crews will need to inspect the service line connection inside your home.

Following replacement, City of Kearney will restore the landscaping exterior to a level surface and provide reseeding of grass, generally within a four-month time frame.

The City of Kearney will provide a Brita water pitcher and filter certified to remove lead to use until six months after your service line is replaced and flush your water (run cold water from the kitchen or bathroom faucet for five minutes after not using water in the home for a few hours).

The City of Kearney is replacing lead service lines on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis. To view when your neighborhood is scheduled for replacement, refer to the phase map. Phase 1 is starting in spring 2024 and each phase is designed to take one year, so Phase 2 will start in 2025.

To minimize disturbances as much as possible, the City of Kearney's contractors and crews are deploying a trenchless technology to replace lead service lines wherever this method is feasible. This method only requires two excavations; one at the City of Kearney watermain, typically near the street, and a second around your curb stop and/or water meter pit. Water meters may be located inside or outside of your residence. Both excavation sites will be restored upon completion of the lead service line replacement. During the onsite visit/inspection at your home, the team will walk through the specific plan for your property and any associated impacts.

Currently, there is no method to reimburse a property owner who wishes to replace their own service line. The State Revolving Loan funds that the City of Kearney is utilizing for this project has very strict guidelines on how the funds can be used and how they are dispensed. The City’s Utilities Department will work with property owners to affirm that work is completed according to the current plumbing standards.

Prior to construction the City or any contractor uses the Nebraska 811 system to have other buried utilities located in and around the construction area. This allows those digging to know where buried infrastructure is located. Nebraska 811 does not locate private lines such as underground sprinklers or buried fences for dogs or mowers. These lines will need to be located by the resident, prior to construction.

Yes, an adult over the age of 18 must be present during the replacement work, since crews will need to inspect the service line connection inside your home. Most service lines will be replaced within four to eight hours.

The service line replacement will be of no cost to the owner/tenant. Any additional work, beyond the scope of the replacement program, will be cost to the owner/tenant.

Property owners must provide safe, lighted and unencumbered access to the water meter and to the service line inside the property, including access to basement, crawlspace, wall or floor area where the service line enters the building, and move any items blocking access such as boxes, furniture, washer and dryers etc.

Any Landscaping such as lawn edging, bushes, flower planters etc. that home owner wishes to save need to be removed before the scheduled service line replacement start date.

We ask the home owner to let us know, during the onsite visit/inspection, if you have an underground lawn sprinkler system, buried dog fence, buried robot lawn mower boundary wire, or anything similar. Additionally, we ask that these lines are located in and around the construction area, prior to the scheduled service line replacement start date.