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Wausau updates residents on accelerated lead service line replacements, projects 1,800+ in 2026
Summary
Community Infrastructure Partners told the Wausau Common Council the city has replaced more than 2,100 private lead service lines to date, secured roughly $19 million in state and federal funding, and projects replacing about 1,800 lines in 2026 while noting remaining uncertainties about material verification and bedrock that could raise costs.
Wausau officials and their contractor gave the Common Council a progress report on the city's accelerated lead service line replacement program on Dec. 9.
Sean of Community Infrastructure Partners said the program replaced 605 private-side lead service lines in 2024 and 1,534 in 2025, for "over 2,100 lines to date," and that the city has secured roughly $19 million through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and EPA programs. He told the council the funding package includes about $12 million in grant principal forgiveness and roughly $8.7 million in heavily subsidized loans at an estimated 0.25% interest rate.
"We are maintaining a greater than 96% consent rate," Sean said, noting the replacement effort is voluntary and that many other programs nationwide report consent rates near 60%.
Sean said the 2026 funding application targets four census tracts that qualify for 100% principal forgiveness on the private side and include required water-filter distribution. Including a $1 million supplemental award that expanded the 2025 scope by roughly 137 lines, he said the city is projecting to replace more than 1,800 lead service lines in 2026, though he warned of significant unknowns.
"We don't know the material of the water service line, whether it's lead or not lead, and we're still verifying that many lead service lines exist within those tracts," he said, adding some areas have bedrock that will increase cost and slow work. He said early estimates show several hundred rock homes could require separate procurement and higher pricing even though private-side construction on those properties is grant-funded.
Staff and the contractor told council there remain at least about 3,400 confirmed lead lines in the city and roughly 3,400 additional unknowns; the unknown pool may contain an estimated 600',800 lead lines. Sean said earlier inventory studies had estimated as many as 8,000 lead pipes citywide, and that current verification reduced that estimate considerably.
Council members asked technical and budgetary questions; the presenter said the city ranked high on project priority lists and that competition for state funds is increasing. The council did not take action on the presentation but thanked the contractor for the update and said staff would follow up with details as bids and verifications proceed.
