© With Contributions from WOOD Grand Rapids Grand Rapids plans major lead removal projects through 2023.Grand Rapid, Michigan. (Wood) -- Grand Rapids has big plans this year to replace lead pipes and remove lead paint from low-income homes.
The city plans to replace about 2,037 trunk lines, and much of the rest, with copper lines.
The water utility operates the second-largest system in the state, serving about 80,000 accounts, according to Water System Director Wayne Gerenberg.
"By comparison, a quarter of our customers have an initial service line, whether it's a full service line or a partial service line," Gerenberg said.
The project uses a mixture of funds raised for repairs through grants and water bills.
“This is the first year we've been doing this in partnership with our Vital Streets initiative in the city, because we know that if we dig up a street sometime, that's good, and if the street is just rebuilt, we're going to have to do it,” Gerenberg said. To go back and repair again, so we are trying to reduce flooding."
The Water Ministry says about 22,000 lead pipes still need to be replaced. This number does not include about 3,500 units sold by the end of 2022.
Customers can view an interactive map on the city's website and see which plumbing pipes are clogged.
In the city, the water is also treated with orthophosphates to prevent lead from entering the water.
"This corrosion protection creates a tough layer inside the lead pipe that prevents the lead from disintegrating and ending up in the drinking water," Gerenberg said.
Paul Hahn specializes in an urban program in removing lead paint from low-income homes, which is a particular concern for children and a more common source of lead exposure.
"What the device does to the body is it interferes with the neurological development of the brain," Hahn said. "When a child approaches him, he falls to the floor, and in 8 cases out of 10 a one- or two-year-old will crawl across the floor to pick him up with their hands and mouth."
Hahn said the city has about 28,000 rental units that were built before 1978, when lead paint was banned, and likely contain lead paint.
We really want to make sure that no child gets hurt. Right now, in some zip codes, it's almost 10% of children being tested, 1 in 10 children are being tested, and in the city it's 1 in 20 children," Khan said.
The city has funds set aside by the federal government to help cover costs for low-income families. Despite the progress that has been made, much remains to be done.
“Maybe our two biggest determinants are people who apply to the program, are interested in it and want to do it, and secondly, we are looking for entrepreneurs who want to go through the process and get certified,” Khan said. .
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