New data from the Wisconsin Policy Forum shows the state has replaced or shut down 73,000 lead service lines over the past 25 years. 37,000 of these lines were replaced or decommissioned between 2018 and today.Video above: Lead pipe crisis in MilwaukeeHowever, the state is not completely lead-free. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin ranks 10th among states with the most lines still in use. Lead exposure can affect brain and nervous system development. State data shows that almost no public water pipes are made of lead, but the service pipes that connect water pipes to homes are often made of lead. These laterals are either owned by the water utility and the homeowner or business owner, or they are wholly owned by the homeowner or business owner. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission estimates there are 158,000 utility lines and 141,000 customer-owned lines in the state. The top 15 Wisconsin communities by share of utility-owned utilities are: ShorewoodWhitefish BaySchofieldWauwatosa MilwaukeeWalworthWausauTwo RiversSuperiorWest AllisSouth Milwaukee AthensOshkoshRacineCudahyAs of 2021, Congress provided more funding for lead pipe replacement. To date, Wisconsin has received $90.6 million in forgivable loans to replace the lead laterals’ customer share. Wisconsin expects to receive $373 million over the next few years for lead pipe replacement through the bipartisan federal infrastructure bill of 2021. Milwaukee expects to receive $30 million in funding statewide through forgivable and low-interest loans. The city replaces service lines on road construction projects, when new daycare centers are licensed, and when service lines leak. At the current pace, Wisconsin could replace all of its leading sidelines in the next two decades.
MILWAUKEE-
New data from the Wisconsin Policy Forum shows the state has replaced or shut down 73,000 lead service lines over the past 25 years. 37,000 of these lines were replaced or decommissioned between 2018 and today.
Video above: Lead pipe crisis in Milwaukee
However, the state is not completely lead-free. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin ranks 10th among states with the most lines still in use. Lead exposure can affect brain and nervous system development.
State data shows that almost no public water pipes are made of lead, but the service pipes that connect water pipes to homes are often made of lead. These laterals are either owned by the water utility and the homeowner or business owner, or they are wholly owned by the homeowner or business owner. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission estimates there are 158,000 utility lines and 141,000 customer-owned lines in the state.
The 15 largest communities in Wisconsin by share of leading utility-owned lines are:
- Shorewood
- Whitefish Bay
- Schofield
- Wauwatosa
- Milwaukee
- Walworth
- Wausau
- Two rivers
- Superior
- West Allis
- South Milwaukee
- Athens
- Oshkosh
- Racine
- Cudahy
Starting in 2021, Congress will provide more funding for lead pipe replacement. To date, Wisconsin has received $90.6 million in forgivable loans to replace the lead laterals’ customer share. Wisconsin expects to spend $373 million to replace lead pipes over the next few years as part of the 2021 federal infrastructure bill.
Milwaukee expects to receive $30 million in funding statewide through forgivable and low-interest loans. The city replaces service lines on road construction projects, when new daycare centers are licensed, and when service lines leak.
At the current pace, Wisconsin could replace all of its leading sidelines in the next two decades.
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