By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur is moving forward on a federally-mandated project to replace lead service lines and aging water mains throughout the city.
The cost is now estimated at $11.6 million, but the project can be spread over a period of 10 years, with funding extended over some 35 years.
The federal Water Utility Improvements project came about, in part, within the last year or so due to the severe nature of the crisis in Flint, Michigan, several years back – a crisis which is still not totally rectified.
At its latest meeting, the Decatur Board of Works and Safety approved an agreement with Commonwealth Engineering to secure State Revolving Fund (SRF) funding for the project.
Commonwealth’s Ben Adams, engineer, and Chris Harrison, business development manager, were on hand for their second board meeting in a row, this time with more details about SRF funding.
Adams said he has been told Decatur would qualify for a no-interest, $12.5 million loan spread over 35 years to fund the project.
The city’s work will be bid as three separate projects spread over nine areas of the city.
The board identified four areas which initially will be done.
The city must be ready to accept bids and close by the end of March to secure the funding..
Adams said the SRF has a list of 70-some cities seeking funding for projects to replace lead service lines.
“This is going to have to happen,” Mayor Dan Rickord said of the lead-line replacements mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
NINE AREAS: Commonwealth has listed nine areas of the city where replacement work is most needed.
A total of 323 lead service lines are targeted.
A Commonwealth report says: “The project also involves significant investigation efforts to identify lead service lines through direct contact with individual homeowners or businesses and/or hydro-excavation efforts.”
Some of the contacts have already been done around the city, with local representatives checking homes for lead service lines.
The project identifies areas that have a dense amount of lead service lines and aging water mains. The mains targeted for replacement are in older parts of the city where, according to Commonwealth, “the water mains are nearing the end of their useful life and require replacement to mitigate main breaks and maintain an adequate level of service.”
Lead service lines, the EPA says, “can represent a significant source of lead in drinking water.”
Here are the areas in Decatur targeted for the project:
Elm St., 13th to Line
Winchester Rd., Canterbury Dr. to Tigers Trail
2nd St., Monroe to Jackson
Adams St., 13th to 3rd
Jefferson St., 2nd to 10th
8th St., Adams to Monroe
9th St., Adams to Monroe
10th St., Adams to Monroe
11th St., Adams to Monroe
Madison St, 2nd to 7th
Monroe St., 1st to 13th
6th St., Jefferson to Madison
Homestead Addition (services only)
High St. (services only)
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