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EquiFlow reports 400 lead-line replacements this year; apprenticeship push and outreach underway
Summary
EquiFlow/CIP reported midseason progress on Wausau—s lead service line replacement program: roughly 400 service lines replaced so far in year two, about 1,100 registrations this year with a citywide total of nearly 3,000 signed release-of-entry forms, and an apprenticeship pilot developed with LiUNA to boost local labor capacity.
The City of Wausau—s lead service-line replacement program reported steady progress at the July 8 Water Works Commission meeting, with program manager Eric Johns (CIP/EquiFlow) saying about 400 service lines have been replaced so far this year toward a goal of approximately 1,532.
Johns said about 1,100 households have registered for replacements this year and the program has obtained roughly 3,000 release-of-entry (ROE) forms overall, including prior-year replacements and reservations for future work. The project team reported about 4,000 verifications have been completed citywide; in June the team completed 41 verifications and secured roughly 150 ROE signatures. The current focus is canvassing in Wausau—s northwest neighborhoods to sign additional ROEs and to locate and verify partial-service-line candidates tied to street reconstruction projects.
Outreach tools include a web form that allows residents to submit photos for preliminary verification; program staff said nearly 70% of respondents reported they would not have known their service line was lead without the EquiFlow outreach. Johns said more than 60% of respondents indicated they would not pay for a replacement, underlining the importance of the program—s funding.
The program has also launched a workforce-development component. In partnership with LiUNA (laborers union), CIP ran an apprenticeship cohort of four participants in June covering CPR, first aid, traffic control and lead-service-line replacement basics; graduates are being connected to LiUNA and local contractors for employment.
Director Eric noted staff have applied for 2026 funding with an expectation of up to roughly 75% principal forgiveness; staff estimate the 2026 request may total roughly $17 million with principal forgiveness of about $12 million and the remainder structured as loans, and he said a joint finance meeting with Ehlers and city finance staff will be scheduled to run numbers and financing scenarios.
"Close to 70% of people wouldn't have even known that they had a lead service line without the EquiFlow program," Eric Johns said, describing why outreach and registration remain primary activities for the team.
