Lead Service Line Replacement Program AT A GLANCE
• Lead exposure is a critical public health issue. This project would address that issue by fully replacing all lead service lines in the Cedar Rapids water distribution system • Many Cedar Rapids homes and neighborhoods with lead service lines overlap with disadvantaged areas, impacting low-income residents and people of color. • Reducing lead in the water distribution system will help improve water quality and public health. ANTICIPATED COST $46 million, based on an estimated $7 thousand per service line replacement and current estimated number of lead service lines in the water distribution system. TIMELINE All systems with lead service lines must prepare a Lead Service Line Replacement Program by the EPA compliance deadline currently set for October 2024.
The City of Cedar Rapids is committed to the public safety of all residents and to meeting and exceeding standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This project aims to fully replace all lead service lines in the community. If present in drinking water, lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials and components associated with water service lines and internal building plumbing. The City is not replacing internal plumbing; additionally, property owners cannot be forced to replace their portion of lead service lines. Cost is often the biggest barrier; therefore, the City aims to offer to fund full replacements in hopes to overcome this barrier. With this funding, the City will be able to replace the public side of service lines and provide grants to homeowners to replace the private side of the service, constituting full replacement from main to meter. Cedar Rapids’ drinking water treatment program includes a corrosion inhibitor, which reduces the risk of lead leeching into drinking water. The Water Division (CRWD) also performs annual lead sampling to verify lead levels remain well below federal limits in finished drinking water. CRWD is committed to protecting public health, and as part of this effort, the City would like to prioritize the full removal of lead service lines throughout the system. CONTINUED