City of Wausau. MWC file graphic
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The City of Wausau is officially launching a public-private partnership dedicated to replacing the 8,000 lead service lines still in use city-wide, with no cost to residents or property owners.
Community Infrastructure Partners CEO Shawn Kerachsky credits Mayor Katie Rosenberg and Public Works Director Eric Lindman with putting the city at the front of the effort to remove lead pipes nationally. “The way the city looked at it strategically was ‘Let’s try to get to the communities that need it most and prioritize as much free money as we can get.’ Other cities and communities in Wisconsin have been slower to mobilize which opened the opportunity for Wausau to get even more [money].”
He says that means all costs associated with the job will be covered, including tree removal, landscaping, or sidewalk repair. “Regardless of the homeowner’s income there cannot be any costs born directly by them to pay for the private side being done.
“No cost to the homeowner directly,” added Kerachsky. “As part of the infrastructure law there has to be full replacement and no costs can be passed on to the homeowner or tenant.”
Mayor Rosenberg made the announcement in a Thursday press release, saying “I am thrilled to announce that the City of Wausau is taking the lead in addressing the national crisis of lead service lines. By partnering with national and local experts, we are launching the country’s first-ever CBP3 dedicated to LSL replacement. We are committed to bringing together the necessary resources for a monumental effort to safeguard our drinking water on an accelerated timeline.”
The CBP3 she’s referring to is a community-based public-private partnership. Community Infrastructure Partners will help facilitate the program, which will be completed over the next five years.
Kerachsky says property owners who will be part of the first round of replacements will be notified over the next few weeks. The early focus will be on neighborhoods located on either side of the Wisconsin River, especially areas south of Stewart Avenue and Downtown.
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The city will also continue to replace private-side lead service lines as street reconstruction projects are completed.
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More information on the project is expected to be announced in early to mid-November.
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