Mayor Gary Christenson and City Councillor Steve Winslow today announced a major new initiative to speed up the removal of lead pipe service lines, particularly those in areas that serve the most children. The Mayor recently approved a request for $2.75 million in American Recovery Act (ARPA) funds to expedite lead service line replacements in 2022, more than triple the $655,000 funds dedicated this year.
“These funds will allow us to mobilize our lead service line program now as we await further Federal Infrastructure Funding that Congresswoman Clark has been working to secure,” said Mayor Christenson.
Councillor Winslow thanked Conservation Commission Chair Isaac Slavitt for developing and advocating for the new program. “Several years ago, I approached Isaac with a proposal to identify the lead lines that serve the most children,” said Councillor Winslow. “We worked with Malden School Department and Cheverus School to help identify the streets where Malden school kids live. Isaac then took that information and with our GIS and Engineering Departments created an application to identify lead pipes that serve the most children.”
Two million dollars in ARPA funds will be used to remove the most risky lead pipes in the City and repair those streets once the lead service line work is done. An additional $750,000 in funds will be used to fund lead service line replacement on other streets being repaved.
The new tool to identify high-impact lead service line street segments can be found here.