City approves $1.3 million lead pipe loan program

TB News Watch
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THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay will offer over $1.3 million in interest-free loans to homeowners, in hopes of speeding the removal of lead water pipes from an estimated 8,700 local homes.
City council voted unanimously Monday to approve a program offering loans of up to $3,000 each to help homeowners cover the costs of replacing lead service connections on private property.

"We hope people with lead services do take advantage of this," said Coun. Mark Bentz. "It's a golden opportunity to improve your home at no interest cost, which is a good deal."

Replacing lead service connections often costs between $2,000 and $4,000, the city has said, though in some cases can be significantly more expensive.
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The new initiative comes as the city faces a $350-million class-action lawsuit filed by residents over a previous effort to address the lead contamination problem by adding sodium hydroxide to its water supply.

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