AMHERST — Only one municipal water service line in Amherst contains lead, according to a recently completed inventory by the Department of Public Works as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Revised Lead and Copper Rule.

In the findings released this month, cooper was the predominant material for the water service lines, all of which are owned and maintained by the property owner.

In fact, 72%, or 5,490 of the 7,576 main water lines from the water main to the “curb box,” are made from copper, with the next most made from iron, with 1,657 pipes. The remainder are plastic, galvanized, brass or unknown. The makeup of the main water lines from the “curb box” to the building is similar, with 5,221 of the 7,588, or 69%, made from copper, with iron making up the second most, and plastic, galvanized, brass and unknown rounding out the tally. None of these pipes are made from lead.

Under this regulation, every water supplier in the country must complete an inventory of each water service line in their system. Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the rule stems from the lead contamination of the Flint, Michigan water supply a decade ago.

Residents living in properties where the water service line is currently categorized as unknown or suspected of containing lead will be receiving letters from the town discussing next steps. For those categorized as unknown, a survey will help the town to determine what they are made of. This can be completed at survey123.arcgis.com/share/2dac5d2f51404d138f5e746229363fee

The full inventory, as well as future actions, can be found at amherstma.gov/waterSLI.

Thanksgiving meals

Amherst area residents will have opportunities for free food and company for Thanksgiving.

The Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road, is putting on its annual “Celebrating Native American Heritage and Giving Thanks to our Community” meal Wednesday from noon to 2:30 p.m.

The meal will feature both dine-in and to-go options with many of the traditional Thanksgiving fixings.

Then, the following day at 1 p.m., Not Bread Alone, a program of the Center for Human Development, will put on its Thanksgiving feast. That takes place at the First Congregational Church, 165 Main St.

New officers

Amherst Police patrol officers Edward F. Bennington, Denis J. Khamasi and Brandon E. Lancto recently graduated from the Holyoke Police Academy as part of their training to join the force, and have also started a 12-week field officer training program.

Lancto, 27, the son of Kevin Lancto and Nancy Lancto, is a 2015 graduate of Westfield High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 2017 and serves in the Air Force Reserves as a technical sergeant.

Khamasi, 41, the son of Ajidza Mushira and John Marauni Wafukho, is a 2003 graduate of St. Ignatius Mukumu Boys High School in Kenya and a 2006 graduate of Greenville High School in Uganda. He earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Holyoke Community College and joined the U.S. Army in 2016, and serves as an Army sergeant. He previously worked as a correctional officer at the Worcester County House of Corrections.

Bennington, 23, is a 2019 graduate of Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School in Orange, and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, with a minor in psychology from Westfield State University. He previously worked at Hamshaw Lumber.

Principal search

A search for a new principal at Amherst Regional Middle School is starting.

“We have applicants, so the search process will begin,” Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman told the Regional School Committee at its Nov. 12 meeting.

Michael Sullivan, a longtime educator who retired Gill-Montague Regional School superintendent, is the temporary principal at the school where seventh and eighth graders from Shutesbury, Leverett, Pelham and Amherst are educated.

Meanwhile, for American Education Week, happening the week before Thanksgiving, Herman said her central office is sponsoring superintendent for a day that is giving some students the opportunity to take on her role and learn more about the work done by the superintendent.

Capital requests

Residents can submit capital project requests for town funding via the town website through Dec. 16 at 4:30 p.m.

In previous years, requests have included speed mitigation on town streets, facility or infrastructure improvements and new equipment. Requests should be less than $50,000 and benefit the public.

All requests will reviewed by the Joint Capital Planning Committee.

Meetings

MONDAY: Local Historic District Commission, 3 p.m.; Cultural Council, 6 p.m.; Historical Commission, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY: Community Resources Committee, 6 p.m.