The WSLH performed the tests. More than 400 residents took the city up on its offer. Those with elevated copper levels all had new plumbing. Nevertheless, it has not been definitely established that microbial slime is the cause of the copper level increases. According to Standridge, Oakland, CA, is the only other city in the U.S. known to have elevated copper levels specific to new plumbing.
Microbial slime is definitely the culprit there.
The city is currently engaged in a lawsuit brought against it by the real estate developers who have been unable to sell homes in which the problems occurred. The City of Monona is currently searching for a consultant to help solve the copper corrosion problem. In the meantime, residents who may be affected have been urged to flush their pipes for three minutes before drinking. Tests show that flushing for this amount of time reduces copper levels to below the safety standard. Standridge s Oakland example supports the thoughts expressed by DNR and Dane County Department of Public Health representatives in media coverage of the Monona situation namely, that these are probably not isolated incidents.