City receives funds to replace lead water service lines

Prioritizing Redhill Water Main Improvement project

The city of Lorain has received $479,660 toward lead water service line replacements from the Ohio EPA through the Drinking Water Assistance Fund, according to a news release.

Ohio EPA is offering up to $1 million in principal forgiveness for complete lead service line replacements to communities with lead service line replacement programs which address both public and private side lead service line replacements, the release said.

The city will use the $479,660 on removing lead service lines as part of the Red Hill Water Main Improvement project.

This project will replace up to 513 public side lead service lines and up to 413 private side lead service lines, according to the release.

Workers will start the project in March and it will last until the fall 2022.

The city intends to apply for additional loan money to use on a future lead service line replacement projects, the release said.

Approximately 6.1 million homes across the country receive drinking water through lead pipes, known as lead service lines (LSL).

Since 2017, in response to concerns about lead in drinking water, Ohio EPA’s Drinking Water Assistance Fund program has provided no interest financing for lead service lines replacement.

For program years 2021 and 2022, eligible lead service lines replacement projects will receive a one-time allocation up to $20 million in principal forgiveness funding.

Principal forgiveness is grant-like funding referred to the principal portion of a loan which does not require repayment, according to the release.

Part of the mission of the Lorain Utilities Department, “is to provide safe, high quality drinking water to all our citizens,” the release said.

To achieve this mission, the Utilities Department has set a yearly goal to replace as many lead service lines as possible.

The first step in the city’s goal is the Redhill Water Main Improvement project, the release said.