Newark Replacing Lead Pipes In Homes; 800 Done, 17000 To Go – Newark, NJ Patch

NEWARK, NJ — As of September, Newark has replaced lead service lines at more than 800 local homes as it deals with an ongoing lead water crisis.

Now it’s onward to the next 17,000, officials say.

Last weekend, city officials kicked off a massive, volunteer-powered canvassing campaign. Going door to door, volunteers spoke to residents about the main suspected culprit of the city’s water woes – aging, privately owned pipes – as well as what they can do to protect themselves.

City officials said the outreach campaign will continue on Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and on weekdays from 6 to 8 p.m.

Roughly 18,000 Newark homes in the Pequannock service area have lead service lines and are affected by elevated levels of lead in their drinking water. According to the U.S. EPA, lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health even at low exposure levels. Young children, infants and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to contamination.

Volunteers also spoke with residents about a proposed ordinance that would require all property owners to replace their lead service lines… at no cost.

Mayor Ras Baraka has said that the only permanent solution to Newark’s water woes is to replace every remaining lead service line in the city.

Normally, replacing lead service lines can be an expensive process, with the average cost of replacement ranging between $4,000 and $10,000. With the help of state funds, Newark officials originally capped homeowners’ out-of-pocket payments at $1,000.

Recently, the city got a major assist from Essex County, which helped it to secure $120 million in loans to kick the replacement effort into high gear. The funding influx will speed up the process, which is now expected to take up to 30 months instead of a decade.

The funds will also help residents replace the lead service lines in their homes for free, city officials say.

TACKLING THE RENTER ISSUE

During last week’s outreach effort, volunteers also took down the contact information for the owners of rental properties.

“With the nation’s highest rate of renters of any major city – 74% – this will eliminate a major obstacle the city faces in securing permission from the owners of tenant-occupied properties,” officials stated Sunday.

The city ordinance proposed last week would also apply to the owners of apartment buildings, who would need to prove they’ve replaced their lead service lines to get certificates of occupancy, code compliance and smoke/carbon monoxide detector certificates.

“Newark is a city of renters and too often landlords either can’t be found or show a lack of interest in this important health initiative,” Baraka previously said.

Property owners who can demonstrate that lead service line replacement has already been accomplished, or that their property has no lead service line – a common condition in larger buildings – would be excluded from the ordinance.

Catch up on some recent coverage of the Newark water crisis below.

Court Rules Against Newark Activists In Battle Over Bottled Water

Activists claim lead water contamination in Newark is more widespread than officials admit. The city says they’re wrong… and tests prove it.

Protest For Clean Water Ignites Outside MTV Awards In Newark: WATCH

Several people carried signs with slogans such as “Get The Lead Out” and “Clean Water For Newark Now.”

Lead In Newark: Feds Say Use Bottled Water, Filters Unreliable

One of the key weapons in Newark’s fight against ongoing lead water contamination may be coming up short, EPA officials say.

Newark Sees Outpouring Of Donations, Love During Water Crisis

There are lots of people ready to roll up their sleeves in the city’s moment of need.

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