Alliance looks for homeowners to apply for pipe replacement project

ALLIANZ – Fewer than expected homeowners have applied for the city’s lead replacement project, and city officials are hoping for greater public interest.

In February, Alliance accepted a $ 1 million loan from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to replace lead pipes with copper in private homes.

The project will allow Alliance to replace lines in around 450 households at no cost to homeowners, but so far the city has received fewer than 200 applications.

“Of course that’s exactly what was true. Some of them are likely to be ruled out by statistics alone. Right now we would like 450 homes, and I suspect we don’t have it. “100 qualified,” said Michael Dreger, City Director for Public Safety and Service.

He said the city hopes more homeowners will show interest because it will save them money on costly but necessary expenses.

“Your service line replacements are typically in the range of three to four thousand dollars per half,” Dreger said.

Part of a service line is located in the street and extends from the water line to the curb. The other part goes from the curb box to the house. In Alliance, lead pipes were only used halfway across the street, which is the section the city will replace, he said.

Dreger said the city started inspecting homes for lead pipes in the spring and expects to start replacing lines in late fall or early winter.

What does Allianz get for pipe replacement?

The funds come through the Ohio EPA’s Revolving Loan Account.

According to Anthony Chenault, EPA media coordinator for the Northeastern, Central and Southeastern Districts of Ohio, the program provides financial support for the planning, design and construction of public water systems.

It’s been operational since 1998 and is operated by the Ohio EPA’s Potable and Groundwater Division and the Environmental and Financial Aid Division, according to Chenault.

It’s a mortgage loan, which means the city doesn’t have to repay it.

Dreger said the loan was officially approved and granted in the spring. The city will complete the work within 18 months of receiving the award.

Foreman Dave Crewson, with the Alliance Water Department, inspects water pipes on W. Harrison Street for lead.

Could my house have lead pipes?

A few months ago, the city sent out flyers to around 3,000 households that could potentially have lead pipes to inform homeowners about the project and encourage them to fill out an application to participate.

Lead service lines are typically found in older cities and homes, according to the EPA. Lead can enter drinking water when lead-containing plumbing materials corrode, and utility lines are the most common source. Lead can lead to learning and behavioral problems, anemia, and retarded growth in children.

Dreger said homes in Alliance built before 1948 likely had a lead pipe at some point that extended from the city water main to the curb stop, but it’s possible the pipes have already been replaced.

“We can identify the houses that are likely to have lead, or more importantly, we can rule out a number of houses that don’t need to have lead, dig and look at the line to see what they have,” Dreger said.

He said the city will give priority to the homes of those who apply for the program and want to complete the home work. The alliance did not get a great response to the first leaflets, he said, but it will send out a second round of communications soon.

“There are houses where we will likely find that a previous owner has replaced everything with copper,” said Dreger. “If it’s me, I’d like to know.”

Will it cost me anything?

The exchange of pipes from the municipal water pipe to the curb is free of charge for homeowners.

“That will save the homeowner three or four thousand dollars, which he doesn’t have to do,” Dreger said.

It is possible that the portion of the utility line that goes into the house from the curb could leak or need to be replaced and these costs would be borne by the homeowner. If a house has iron pipes, says Dreger, they are way beyond their life expectancy.

“We encourage people to take out insurance,” he said. “What is most likely to happen if they have insurance, if that line starts leaking, they’re going to have it replaced just for insurance costs.”

Homeowners can apply to participate in the program by completing an application at https://www.cityofalliance.com/481/Water-Service-Line-Replacement-Project.

You can reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or [email protected] or on Twitter at @paigembenn.

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