WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — If Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg has it her way, the city’s water customers won’t be paying out of pocket to have their lead service lines replaced.
“Two weeks ago I spent time reaching out to foundations and our Government partners,” said Rosenberg. “[I’m] trying to get them excited that we are doing this unique program to replace all of our lead service lines, and actually I’ve had a lot of outreach back from organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson and Joyce [Foundations].”
The ultimate goal is to not push any of the cost to replace the pipes onto the ratepayers, who are already dealing with a significant rate increase tied to a new filtration system and the utility’s financial situation.
Rosenberg adds that most of the government funding for the project will be reserved for private-side replacement, as required by groups like the Wisconsin DNR. The utility will then be responsible for the public side.
The replacement plan currently calls for 500 lines to be replaced in 2024. That number goes up to 1,500 the following year, with the remaining 6,000 lines replaced over the final three years of the program.
RELATED: Water Works Commission Approves GAC Timeline Adjustment, Discusses Potential Lead Pipe Ordinance
The city is still finalizing which neighborhoods will get their lines replaced next year but she expects that will include areas that are already scheduled for complete street reconstructions and areas considered to be in a vulnerable census tract.
Other topics Rosenberg discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include
Start of video- Change in PFAS monitoring and lead pipe update
12:00- Return of the goats
13:05- New fire and police chiefs
Comments