More than 300 homes in Kalamazoo’s Edison neighborhood will no longer be connected to lead water service lines after this summer.
More than 302 lead service lines will be replaced after a $1.9 million contract was awarded to Comstock-based SWT Excavating, Inc. Monday. A start date has not yet been set, but the work is likely to wrap up by the end of the construction season.
The city of Kalamazoo has been replacing lead service lines since 1992, but recently took a more aggressive strategy to remove all lead pipes within 20 years. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality recommends all existing lead service lines be replaced.
While the city was only able to remove around 100 each year, new funding sources like the Foundation for Excellence picked up the pace. Public Services Director James Baker wants 500 replaced each year.
Eighteen lead water services were replaced in April, for a total of 71 so far in 2018.
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