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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. The Denver Post
See the original article here. Denver Water’s 15-year plan to replace all lead service pipes connecting homes to water mains can begin on a trial basis, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials decided this week. The utility estimates that 64,000 to 84,000 homes receive water through lead pipes, said CEO and Manager Jim Lochhead. Replacing the pipes could cost about $500 million. Lead is linked to developmental disabilities and other long-term health problems. Levels of the heavy metal spiked in Denver’s water system in 2012, triggering a series of tests that ultimately led to the replacement plan, Lochhead said. “We’re planning to start pulling lead service lines from the system starting around February 1,” Lochhead said. “And we will also be distributing filters to a little over 100,000 homes just after the first of the year.” Chicago Tribune
Aurora is moving toward replacing more lead water pipes in the public right-of-way. The City Council’s Infrastructure and Technology Committee this week recommended adopting unit prices for the replacement of what are called “long side" lead water service lines from within the city’s right-of-way. WKOW
JANESVILLE (WKOW) -- Janesville's city council is considering an ordinance that would offer free lead water pipe replacements to some residents. Wisconsin cities do not commonly offer complimentary lateral work and state laws seem purposefully designed to prevent such deals. But, Janesville found a clever dodge. "We're a government agency, so we know to avoid government agencies," said David Botts, the city's utility director. The solution to evading Wisconsin lead lateral replacement rules: don't give out money via the water utility. See the original article from The Island Now.
North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board members would like to remind residents that the Town will fund the replacement of residential drinking water lead service lines as part of New York’s Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017. In 2018, the Town was awarded a $611,363 Lead Service Line Replacement Program, or, LSLRP grant to assist with the cost of the water line replacement for eligible homes. Water mains maintained by the various water districts in the Town of North Hempstead have all since been replaced, however, individual lead service lines connecting homes to these mains may still exist. Lead in service lines primarily existed in homes constructed before 1939. This program would allow for those individual service lines to be replaced and would cover the cost to do so. See the original article.
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWNY) - The city of Watertown is replacing water service lines made with lead. A couple of years ago, the city received money from the state to do it, but it still has a lot of money left. The city Water Department crew is digging down to the water line going to a home on East Avenue. It is replacing a lead piece of piping called a goose neck. "As the water goes over that lead piece of pipe, it collects some of that lead and then people are drinking it, so obviously we want to remove that," said Vicky Murphy, the city's water superintendent. See the original article from NBC 12.
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - In recognition of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 20 – 26, 2019), the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) announces its Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Grant Program. This week raises awareness of lead poisoning and focuses on ways to reduce childhood exposure to lead, as lead can be especially harmful to children. The Department of Public Utilities says water supplied by the city is safe and has won awards for its quality. The city also treats water with an inhibitor to help mitigate the possibility of lead being deposited in the pipes. But lead can get into tap water through home service piping, lead solder used in plumbing and some brass fixtures. Homes built prior to the mid-1980s may contain lead piping or other lead components that may result in small amounts of lead being deposited in the water that goes to homes. The LSLR Grant Program helps homeowners get lead out of their homes by replacing lead water service lines. Financial assistance up to $2,500 can be awarded for direct costs for lead service line replacement. The grant program was introduced by DPU in 2018 and is now in its second phase. Richmond is one of three localities in the commonwealth to receive grant funding from the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water. “We recognize our responsibility and role in ensuring the public health of our community is always foremost. I’m especially proud of the work my team does in providing clean and safe drinking water and in administering this grant program. Collaborative partnerships, like this with the Virginia Department of Health, are essential with limited public funding and investment,” says Calvin D. Farr, Jr., DPU director. DPU publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each year that highlights the quality of its drinking water. These reports are published on the website at www.richmondgov.com. Hard copies are available upon request. Additionally, water utility customers can request testing of their drinking water at any time. For more information on the Lead Service Line Replacement Grant Program, contact: Michelle Woodson, (804) 646-8544 See the original article from WaterWorld.
BUFFALO, NY, OCT 21, 2019 -- Mayor Byron W. Brown and Buffalo Water Board Chairman Oluwole “OJ” McFoy recently announced that Buffalo “Replace Old Lead Lines” (ROLL) program has replaced over 100 water lines since its launch in late June. This pilot program, funded through $567,000 from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s water line replacement initiative, as well as a $155,000 member item grant from Senator Jacobs, and a $100,000 Department of Environmental Conservation grant, has enabled the City to replace residents’ water service lines when those lines experience a break or a leak. “With the announcement of this program earlier this year, it was my goal to further the city’s commitment to combatting lead exposure, while also making our communities healthier and stronger,” Mayor Brown said. “Replacement of lead service lines will not only ensure the continued safety of our drinking water, but it will also enhance residential infrastructure making it more resilient for the future.” See the original article in NJ Spotlight.
On Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled a sweeping agenda designed to eliminate New Jersey’s lead contamination problem in 10 years. The plan includes replacing every lead service line that’s leaching the potent toxin into drinking water and requiring every child to be tested for lead before starting school. “It is time for us to ensure that New Jerseyans are safe from lead exposure, and that generations to come remain safe,” said Murphy. “The damage that is done to kids who have exposure — and it’s not treated, it’s not known — is so overwhelmingly obvious.” Getting the lead out will be a massive task. Information from New Jersey water utilities estimates 350,000 lead service lines need to be replaced statewide, and that the cost to replace them all could top $2 billion. Murphy would remediate the lead problem by asking voters to approve a $500 million bond issue in November 2020 to help public water utilities with paying for lead service line replacement. His goal: to replace all lead service lines within a decade. |
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