Over 1,600 lead lines replaced by Greater Cincinnati Water Works over the past year
Greater Cincinnati Water Works replaced more than 1,600 lead service lines over the past year, about 30% more than the year before and more than any previous year, according to WVXU News.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations require replacing at least 10% of remaining lead lines every year starting in 2028, a requirement the utility is working hard to meet.
Although the utility uses treatment practices that reduce the risk of lead leaching into drinking water, meaning water going through lead lines is likely safe, the risk is still enough to warrant replacing the lead lines, experts say.
Lead paint is the most common source of lead poisoning, but water lines are a contributing cause as well. Lead toxicity is especially harmful for young children, posing a risk of developmental problems.
GCWW's service area has about 33,500 lead service lines on the privately owned side; of those, about 9,500 also have lead pipes on the publicly owned side, WVXU News reported. Both public and private lead lines have to be replaced.
Water Works has started using a prioritization model to decide which ones to replace first. The model was developed by researchers at the University of Cincinnati; it looks at where people are at higher risk for lead poisoning based on data — like how many young children live in the area — plus factors like income and the availability of fresh food.
Related News
From Archive
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
- Alaska LNG pipeline could require 7,000 workers at peak construction, developers say
- Ohio trench collapse kills one worker, injures two during pipe installation
- Elon Musk's Boring Co. fined for dumping drilling waste into Vegas sewer system
- $1.4 billion Midwest pipeline expansion to move more Canadian oil to U.S. Gulf
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
- Massive water line failure leaves majority of Waterbury without service
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines
Comments