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Malden announces $10 million EPA grant to accelerate lead service line replacement, ties projects to climate resilience
Summary
Mayor Gary Christenson and staff said Malden is poised to receive a $10 million EPA grant to speed replacement of remaining lead service lines (with MWRA loans/grants) and highlighted the Malden River Works climate-resilient park and emissions reductions from the community electricity program.
Mayor Gary Christenson used the State of the City to highlight major infrastructure and climate investments, announcing Malden is poised to receive an additional $10 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to accelerate replacement of remaining lead water service lines.
Christenson said that combined with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) loan-and-grant program the city is on track to eliminate all remaining lead service lines by 2032. "You heard me right. $10 million. Dollars," the mayor said, adding the work can proceed without burdening taxpayers when matched with other state and federal funds.
City leaders also described the Malden River Works Climate Resilient Park at 356 Commercial Street, where visible improvements include a newly paved parking area, a bio-retention pond, and a riverfront path. The mayor noted phase-two amenities—landscaping, docks, a second river path, lighting, benches, and signage—depend on continued fundraising and additional grants.
On climate mitigation, the mayor said the municipal aggregation program prevented "1.5 million pounds of carbon monoxide emissions" in its first year, citing the community electricity effort as a dual-affordability and emissions strategy.
Why it matters: replacing lead service lines has direct public-health consequences for households with lead exposure risk; the announced EPA grant materially accelerates the timetable and reduces expected local costs. The riverfront and resiliency investments aim to reduce flood risk and improve public access but depend on ongoing fundraising.
Next steps: the city will proceed with lead-line replacement planning using EPA funds and MWRA support; park phase two is contingent on further fundraising.
