WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

 

Grand Rapids receives grants to replace some residential lead service lines

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The City of Grand Rapids has received about 15-million dollars in state and local grants to replaced lead-service lines.

The City of Grand Rapids says it plans to replace 2,037 lead lines this year. Grand Rapids Water System Manager Wayne Jernberg was a guest on West Michigan's Morning News. He said residents can call 3-1-1 to find out when their lead water line will be replaced.

"Essentially what people will get is a packet of information. There will be three letters in there, in English and Spanish," he said. "One telling them what the project is about. The second portion of that will be about how to identify if they actually have a lead service line in their basement. And then, the final part of that is an authorization form for us to be able to do work on private property."

In 2020, the program got a boost thanks to a $5.1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help replace approximately 1,600 private lead service lines in the Neighborhoods of Focus. In 2021, the City of Grand Rapids Water System received an additional $10 million from the State of Michigan to replace 1,448 lead lines in 2023 and 2024.

So far, 3,100 lead service lines have been replaced since 2017 and 23,000 lead lines remain citywide. Despite the progress, water system officials say there is much more to do before the State mandate requiring all cities to replace its lead lines by 2040. Under the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act of 2018, municipalities must replace their lead and galvanized service lines in residential units. It is part of the Lead and Copper Rule.

"We need to have access," Jernberg tells WOOD Radio. "So, it's imperative when people get this packet of information to respond back to the city, sign that agreement and get that back (to us), so we can get in and do the work. If we don't have that, we can't do the work on private property."

In a news release, Jernberg explained that the Lake Michigan Filtration Plant, located in West Olive, MI, treats and pumps an average of 36 million gallons of water daily. The treated drinking water from the filtration plant is lead-free when it leaves the plant and remains lead-free as it moves through the underground distribution system. When the drinking water reaches an older home or commercial structure, it is possible that lead particles from the privately owned lead water service line or interior plumbing fixtures may enter the drinking water. Before 1950, it was common for water service lines to be made of lead.                                                        

“Since 1994, the City has treated the water with an orthophosphate blend to limit pipe corrosion and reduce the potential for lead in your water,” he said. “We also test the drinking water annually for lead at 50 homes throughout the city every year. The lead test results are reported on our website and have consistently been below the allowable levels set by the State of Michigan and the federal government. We also monitor the water quality daily both at our plant and at over 40 locations in our distribution system. We continue to meet all regulatory standards set for our water and are proud of our excellent water quality.”

###


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content