NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey officials announced that the city will receive a $120 million bond that will speed up the replacement of lead water removal of lead on a faster track.
The money will cut the time to replace the 18,000 led pipes from eight to ten years, to 24-30 months.
Mayor Ras Baraka says this permanent remedy will cost taxpayers nothing.
"Previously, we had an arrangement with the state of New Jersey, our homeowners had to pay 10 percent of that," Baraka said. With this money we anticipate that no one would have to pay anything to get their lead service lines replaced."
Gov. Phil Murphy says he knows they must work more efficiently faster to restore the trust of residents.
"We all know that we have to faster and harder, and together, importantly to restore resident's trust in their water." Murphy said.
"It goes without saying that this is a situation which none of us welcomed, but we are all committed to get right." he added.
For now the affected residents will continue to receive bottled water.