Baltimore awards $7.6 million contract for lead water line inspections
(UI) — Baltimore has awarded a $7.6 million contract to Electro Scan Inc. for inspecting water service lines for lead. The contract, approved by the City of Baltimore Board of Estimates, covers services from June 2024 to June 2027.
Electro Scan will use its proprietary technology to identify and inspect water service line materials, including lead pipes. This effort is part of Baltimore's compliance with President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR).
The Board of Estimates members include City Council President Nick J. Mosby, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Comptroller Bill Henry, City Solicitor James Shea, and Director of Public Works Jason W. Mitchell.
The EPA requires all U.S. water systems to inventory and replace lead drinking water pipes. Preliminary results are due by October 16, 2024, but the process is expected to take years.
Electro Scan’s patented SWORDFISH device uses electrical resistance testing to measure conductivity changes inside pipes, allowing for non-invasive inspections. The technology was initially developed to detect pipe defects missed by other methods.
Electro Scan has also opened a Customer Engagement Center to support online bookings for water systems creating accurate inventories of water service connections. Baltimore has 113,626 homes built before 1939, where lead pipes are most likely to be found.
During the Board of Estimates meeting, Richard J. Luna, Deputy Director of Public Works, noted that Baltimore has about 177,000 unknown water service lines needing inspection. Paul Sayan, Acting Water/Wastewater Bureau Chief, emphasized that adopting Electro Scan's technology aligns with the city's goal of using innovative methods to improve decision-making.
Electro Scan's contract includes goals for minority business participation and local hiring. The announcement coincides with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Annual Conference & Expo in Anaheim, California, where Electro Scan is exhibiting its SWORDFISH services.
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