Lead Service Line Replacement Program

Note:  The City of Rice Lake's Lead Service Line Replacement Program is still being developed. Please check back to this page for updates.

April 21, 2026 is the estimated first day that property owners may apply for the private-side Lead Service Line Replacement program.

The City of Rice Lake takes the issue of issue of lead in drinking water very seriously. Since property owners in Rice Lake own a portion of the water service line, there is a shared responsibility to manage lead exposure. On February 10, 2026, the Common Council of the City of Rice Lake passed Ordinance No. 26-01, titled Private Lead Service Line Replacement Financing.  

The City Council finds that the replacement of public and private lead service lines (LSL) protects public heath and promotes the general welfare of City residents. The purpose of the ordinance is to facilitate loans to property owners to replace private lead service lines by treating principal and interest repayments, fees, and other charges for these loans as special charges eligible for inclusion on the tax bill for these properties. 

City of Rice Lake Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Licensed Plumber/Utility Contractors Interested in Participating in the Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program

This RFQ is valid for the 2026-2027 calendar years LSLR program through December 31, 2027.

Project Scope:

The City of Rice Lake Water Utility is seeking qualifications from licensed plumbers/utility contractors who are interested in performing lead service line replacement (LSLR) work in the City. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) has made funds available through the Private Lead Service Line Replacement Program within the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to municipalities to help offset the cost of replacing the privately-owned portions of lead water service lines. For the purposes of the SDWLP program, private lead service line replacement means, “the replacement of the existing lead service line between the curb stop and the water meter within the structure.”

Only licensed plumbers/utility contractors providing appropriate responses to this RFQ will be placed on a certified plumbers list to perform the LSLR work. This list will be distributed to owners of these properties who will then be able to contract directly with a licensed certified plumber/utility contractor. Once work is completed, eligible costs will be reimbursed from the City’s Lead Service Line (LSL) program. The City anticipates that there may be as many as 100 LSLs that will need replacing. The City encourages Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE’s), including Minority Business Enterprises (MBE’s) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBE’s), to pre-qualify for the purpose of being included in the Project.

Eligible work under the SDWLP include the cost of excavation, materials, labor, backfill, and restoration. No-dig methods of pipe installation is preferred as a typical.

Deadline for receipt of RFQ responses is 12:00 noon on Thursday, April 2, 2026

The request for plumber/contractor qualifications submittal form and current Davis-Bacon wage information can be found at the Rice Lake Utility office at 320 W Coleman St, Rice Lake, WI.

Please call 715-234-7004 or email info@ricelakeutilities.com for more information.

Deliver hard-copy submission materials with signatures to:

Rice Lake Utilities

320 West Coleman Street

Rice Lake, Wisconsin 54868

Service Line Identification

Please call our office at 715-234-7004 to see if we have record of what type of service line you have. If not, we can schedule an appointment to verify the service line material. To identify the service line material yourself, please see the DNR's document: How to Identify LSLs or Galvanized Iron/Steel Service Pipes (PDF).

Homeowner Forms

A property owner will complete four documents over the course of the program. These address:

• Document 1 - Eligibility and conditions of participation for Rice Lake Utilities

• Document 2 - Formal application for review by Rice Lake Utilities

• Document 3 - Loan funding application for City of Rice Lake documentation

• Document 4 - Project completion form for City of Rice Lake invoicing and payments

These documents will be available via the links at the right once finalized.