Lead Service Line Replacement – Technical Assistance and Education

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is launching an innovative program, ” designed to accelerate the removal of toxic lead water pipes across the region. Replicating a successful model pioneered in New Jersey, this project utilizes a third-party guarantor to fund the vital planning and engineering design phases required to apply for state revolving fund loans. By partnering with a technical engineering firms, the Cities Initiative will provide historically under-resourced and marginalized communities with the comprehensive technical and application support necessary to secure federal funding, completely removing the upfront financial risk for these municipalities. This initiative delivers profound public health and equity benefits to lead-burdened communities that have faced decades of infrastructure disinvestment. By dismantling the costly technical barriers to accessing federal water funds, the program empowers vulnerable municipalities to protect their residents by expediting lead service line replacements. Beyond direct engineering support, the project fosters long-term community resilience and water equity by hosting educational workshops, webinars, and cross-jurisdictional peer exchanges, equipping local and Indigenous leaders with the shared best practices and collective advocacy network needed to ensure safe, affordable drinking water for all.