NY's $250-million lead pipe replacement program raises procurement concerns
New York’s newly approved $250 million water infrastructure funding program is drawing attention from industry groups over how materials will be selected for lead service line replacement projects.
The funding, approved by the state’s Environmental Facilities Corporation, will support lead pipe replacement, PFAS treatment and broader upgrades to aging drinking water and wastewater systems in communities across the state.
While applauding the investment, the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) is urging state and local leaders to adopt open, competitive procurement practices. “Any municipal procurement procedure must be open to competitive bidding,” said David M. Fink, president of PPI, noting that such an approach allows utilities to evaluate solutions based on service life and cost to ratepayers.
Fink added that a material-neutral strategy would help accelerate replacement efforts. “When the goal is to get lead out of the ground as quickly as possible, policymakers should support flexibility and innovation,” he said.
As states scale up lead service line replacement programs, procurement policies are expected to play a growing role in determining project costs, timelines and material selection across underground water infrastructure systems.
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