PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pennsylvania American Water is replacing lead service lines to hundreds of homes in Coatesville. While the costs to replace those lines would typically fall on the property owner, funding for the project is coming through a state agency.
JoAnn Hepler, senior manager of water quality programs at Pennsylvania American Water, said more than 200 service lines will be replaced in Coatesville through $4.2 million in grants and low-interest loans from PENNVEST, Pennsylvania’s infrastructure investment program.
According to Hepler, the service line runs from the main to the home, with the property owner typically responsible for the portion from the curb to the home. The new program changes that process for 240 homeowners.
“Through our program, we are replacing the lead and galvanized service lines that are customer-owned at no direct cost to the customer,” she said.
Lead was commonly used in water infrastructure in the mid-20th century, but exposure has been linked to issues with brain development in children, as well as high blood pressure, kidney issues and other health concerns in adults.
“We really focused on older neighborhoods where service lines were more likely to contain lead,” said Hepler, “so we recognized Coatesville City as an area that we thought this would benefit.”
Galvanized steel is also being replaced, as it can capture and hold lead from other downstream pipes.
Hepler says they’re currently working to identify lines that need to be replaced. Residents can visit the Pennsylvania American Water website for a survey to determine materials in their service lines. Replacement projects are expected to start in late summer or early fall.
