Consultant offers QR survey to identify 528 unknown service lines

The WPCA heard a proposal to use a resident survey with QR codes and image uploads to identify unknown customer service‑line materials, a method the consultant said had worked elsewhere to reduce field inspection costs. The presenter described a short questionnaire with one image and simple instructions residents could use on a phone to identify whether a service line is plastic, copper, galvanized or something else.

"We could send [a survey] in the mailboxes... it would have a QR code on it as well as a link," the presenter (speaker 8) said, describing the process of collecting pictures and simple self‑identifications. Members noted prior paper surveys had limited response and the Department of Public Health requires validated data (the transcript cites three validation points) before accepting material declarations, meaning the authority may still need targeted excavation or field checks in many cases. The WPCA agreed to pursue a mix of approaches: use a homeowner survey to reduce unknowns and continue targeted validation where state rules require it.