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With EPA working on final changes to the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, there will likely be an increase in water utilities relying on predictive tools to develop their lead service line inventories. ASDWA is hosting this webinar to provide the opportunity to learn about state and utility experience with predictive tools and algorithms for lead service line inventories. Presentations include:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8400110911829355533 Bennington Banner
See the original article. By Luke Nathan, Bennington BannerBENNINGTON — An effort to replace lead service lines that link town water mains to private buildings will move forward after voters this week authorized a $9.5 million bond for the project. The measure passed on Tuesday by a vote of 2,898 to 635. No other, individual article on the ballot garnered as many "yes" votes. "We're moving forward," Town Manager Stu Hurd said on Thursday. The project is eligible for full reimbursement through the state and federally supported Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which in the past had supported only projects related to municipally owned facilities. Hurd said he hopes the state will award the town about $2 to $3 million for a first phase of construction. Other localities are also in the process of exploring similar projects, he said, but Bennington is "much further along." Through an earlier, grant-supported mapping and planning process, MSK Engineering and Design, the consulting firm leading the project, identified 1,664 service lines made of either lead or unknown material. There are more than 3,800 service lines throughout Bennington. After attempting to contact the owners of those 1,664 lines, the consultancy managed to visually assess service lines connected to 726 properties — and confirmed the existence of 136 lead service lines, according to a presentation by Jason Dolmetsch, president of MSK, at the Select Board's Jan. 27 meeting. WBAY.com
See the original article. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - The Green Bay Water Utility's efforts to remove all of its lead pipes in the city is nearing completion. Action 2 News has been following efforts to replace lead pipes for years, both at the local and state levels. At the time of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis in 2014, Green Bay Water Utility general Manager Nancy Quirk says concern about the dangers of lead pipes and drinking water was already on the radar of Congress. "Lead services were definitely being seen as the main contributor to lead in water and they wanted to get a proactive way to get those out," recalls Quirk. So Green Bay developed an aggressive plan in 2016 to remove all of its lead services left in the city. "We went from 1,800 down to now we're at 194 today, so we are on track to get these out this year," says Quirk. Quirk says it's been a costly but important endeavor. "Somewhere around the $8 million, $9 million that we've spent with our own forces to try to get our side done," explains Quirk. Along with identifying nearly 2,000 utility-owned lead services, crews also investigated the pipes property owners own. KDK Radio.com
See the original article. PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) -- The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is expanding the free lead line replacement program. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approved the income limit expansion from 250% of the Federal Poverty Level to 300%, allowing more customers to have their lead service lines replaced at no cost. So far, only $800,000 of the $1.8 million allotment has been used. If you think you might qualify, call Dollar Energy to begin the process at 866-762-2348. You can also click here for more information. Macomb Daily News
See the original article. Work crews will soon begin replacing lead service lines to about 500 homes in St. Clair Shores at no cost to impacted homeowners, city officials said Friday. But first, the city's Department of Public Works must receive signed agreements from property owners allowing the crews to gain access to the houses, according to DPW Director Bryan Babcock. "We anticipate the work will take 1-2 hours per house, along with some prep work," Babcock said. "After we're done replacing the line, we have to flush it and restore the property back to the condition it was found in." WCLO
Janesville’s City Manager is defending a City Council decision this week to requiring property owners to remove privately owned lead water lines. Mark Freitag says the individual property owners aren’t the only people being exposed to that lead. Freitag says the lead lines are a hazard for everyone because when City workers depressurize the water lines to do repairs, water from individual homes flows back into the system. Freitag says the City has cost assistance and grants available to help residents pay for the cost of replacement which typically runs around $5000 or less. Brenden Moore, State Journal Register
See the full article here. Members of the Springfield City Council are giving City Water, Light and Power the green light to borrow $1 million from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to help fund the utility’s effort to replace Springfield’s remaining lead service lines over the next 30 years. Council members voted in Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting to place the ordinance on the consent agenda for next week’s City Council meeting, meaning it is all but assured of passage. Basically, if awarded by the state, the funds would be used to assist low-income home owners in the replacement of the customer-owned portion of the service line along with contracting work to repair streets, sidewalks and landscaping impacted by construction. Patch.com
See the full article and video here. Some 450 homes in Somerville have lead in their drinking water – 3.6 percent of all homes – and their residents have been drinking lead laden water for years. Next spring, the Engineering Division will finally begin replacing those pipes, thanks to a state program. Construction Liaison and Compliance Manager, Jesse Moos explained that the City of Somerville (Official) will select 70 priority residents during the first phase of the program that will begin April 2020. The contractors will perform "excavation" which is an extraction of the pipe without having to dig up the entire length of the pipe, he said. WGIL
Galesburg residents, especially households in which a child has tested positive for elevated lead blood levels, are strongly encouraged to apply for the next round of the Lead Hazard Remediation Grant. The program has started providing lead hazard remediation at no cost to homeowners and tenants. In the fall, WGIL reported that thus far, 1,300 lead service lines have been replaced – and another 500 are slated for replacement by March. The program targets low-to-moderate-income, privately-owned, owner-occupied and rental units throughout the community. A family of four can qualify for the grant with an annual income of $52,050 or less. In order to be considered for the program, homes must be located within the city limits of Galesburg, be built before 1978, and contain lead-based paint hazards. “I did a number-stat thing a couple of years ago (and) 80% of the housing stock (in Galesburg) was built before 1978 and that’s when lead paint was outlawed,” said Housing Coordinator Judy Gunseth. “We haven’t had a lot of new construction, so a lot of our dwellings do test positive for lead paint. We also have the issue that many of the subdivided older homes are subdivided into rental units. Low-income people are in those rental units and a lot of times there are small children with them too.” Applicants who are unsure if their home or rental unit have lead-based paint hazards, or if they meet program criteria are encouraged to submit an application for review. An assessment of any lead-based paint hazards in the home will be conducted as part of the application process. A link to the City’s website for lead applications is here. The Evening Sun
NORWICH – The City of Norwich Department of Public Works (DPW) announced at the common council meeting Monday night they will begin work to replace all lead water pipes throughout the city. According to DPW Superintendent Edward Pepe, this will be a two year project with most of the replacements taking place in the summer of 2020 and 2021. The city is recommending homeowners who have lead pipes to participate in the replacement program this year, so the city can be compensated by the state for improvements. See the full article from The Evening Sun. |
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