Overview:

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The City of Kalamazoo is committed to the removal of all lead water services within the public water supply system. The City's Public Services Department has had an annual lead replacement program in effect since 1992, however budgetary constraints limited the number of replacements that could occur each year. Until 2016, less than 100 replacements could be completed each year, resulting in a timeframe of approximately 100 years for complete removal. Thanks in part to the Foundation for Excellence, lead services can now be replaced at a rate of approximately 500 per year, allowing for complete removal in roughly 20 years and reducing the revenue requirements for this program by about 20%. The City of Kalamazoo also continues to pursue grant and other funding opportunities to support this work.

The water provided by the Kalamazoo water system is also appropriately treated, tested, and monitored to ensure it is clean and safe for all Kalamazoo customers.

PROJECT MANAGER:

John Paquin, Water Resources Division Manager

OBJECTIVES:

To identify and replace all remaining lead water service lines currently in use in Kalamazoo's public water supply system. Whenever possible, this work is done in coordination with planned street construction projects to minimize the number of times lanes or streets must be closed and avoid causing damage to newly repaired streets.

SCHEDULE:

  • Approximately 500 services per year done in coordination with street projects.

PARTNERSHIPS:

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

STAFFING:

Water Resources Division, Contractors

OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS:

SWT Excavating, among others

CONSISTENT WITH PLANS:

Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 Master Plan

VISION:

All lead water services will be replaced in the City of Kalamazoo's  water system providing extra assurance to Kalamazoo customers that no lead can enter drinking water.

STRATEGIC VISION GOALS: 

Safe Community

METRICS:

Number of services replaced, number of services remaining, number replaced per year

BUDGET:

FUNDING SOURCES:

Water Fund, Foundation for Excellence, Grant Opportunities.