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Date: 4/20/2023
EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow DPW has received a $161,700 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to check water service lines for lead or galvanized metal in more than half the homes in town.
The Lead Service Line Planning Program is part of a nationwide initiative from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate lead and other harmful materials from water infrastructure. In Massachusetts, the Clean Water Trust is administering the program. The trust approved $38 million in low-interest loans and grants for projects in 14 communities. The grants and loans are funded by the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds, a program created by a partnership between the state and the EPA.
East Longmeadow DPW Director Bruce Fenney said the town is working in conjunction with the engineering and environmental consulting firm Tighe & Bond to audit the water lines from the street to homes and building that were built before 1985, when lead and galvanized metal ceased to be used for such purposes.
“There’s a lot of communities with this issue, but I don’t think we’re one of them,” Fenney said of municipalities with lead and galvanized metal lines.
Fenney said that of the 4,325 metered locations in town, 2,718 fall within the specified period. So far, 76 homes have been audited, with no problematic lines found. Fenney has been auditing service lines while replacing water meters, but the town will soon begin auditing in earnest. East Longmeadow must complete all audits before Oct. 16, 2024.
Fenney said homeowners with affected infrastructure will be informed of the findings but cautioned that there was no immediate danger from residents’ tap water. He explained that mineral deposits accumulate and coat the interior of service lines, creating a barrier between the material the line is made of and the water. Affected homes would be put on a water testing program to ensure safety.
Homeowners are responsible for service lines from their houses to the curb stop, a shut off point at the street. Fenney expects the federal government to make funding available for homeowners to pay for the replacement of affected service lines and they said the town would help residents navigate the process.
“We are going to do our best to try to make it so homeowners do not have to pay out of pocket,” Fenney said. “If somebody has a suspect line that doesn’t look like copper and the house [was built before 1985], they can always call,” the DPW.
For more information on the Lead Service Line Planning Program, visit mass.gov/info-details/lead-service-line-planning-program. To learn more about lead in drinking water, visit eastlongmeadowma.gov/184/Lead-in-Drinking-Water.