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Westerly hears plan to replace roughly 2,000 lead service lines, seeks quick federal grants
Summary
Community Infrastructure Partners pitched a two-year, federally funded program to replace an estimated 2,000 lead service lines in Westerly, saying a census-tract approach could unlock about $6 million in principal-forgiveness grants and cut the town—osts to roughly $16.5 million.
Community Infrastructure Partners told the Wesley Town Council on July 21 that Westerly faces an inventory of roughly 2,000 addresses with at least some lead service material and has a narrow window to get the most federal help.
"We estimate there's about 2,000 addresses with a lead pipe," said Sean Krashki, president and CEO of Community Infrastructure Partners, during a presentation to the council. He and the firm's chief business officer, Sean Agot, described a turnkey model to replace public and private service lines with a goal of completing work in about 24 months.
The nut graf: CIP said the town could pursue principal forgiveness available under federal infrastructure law by applying on a census-tract basis rather than as a single municipality — a distinction that could yield roughly $6 million in grant money and reduce the town—orrowing needed to about $10 million, the presenters estimated. CIP projected a total program cost of about $16.5 million, or roughly $8,300 per service line, and proposed an initial ramp of roughly 700 replacements in year one and 1,300 in year two.
Councillors pressed CIP on the sensitive question of private-side work: who pays for the curb-to-house portion where property owners have already replaced interior plumbing, and whether homeowners would face assessments. Krashki said that, for homes located in qualifying disadvantaged census tracts, private-side replacements would be covered by grant-funded principal forgiveness and property owners would not be charged. For properties outside those tracts, CIP said a town-administered interest-free repayment plan or other cost-share could be used.
CIP representatives said the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank will administer program dollars for the state and the Department of Health will set program rules; states allocate funds to census tracts and principal forgiveness levels are competitive. Krashki noted Providence had applied earlier but had not yet spent the funds, so Westerly may still be able to access significant grant dollars if it acts quickly.
Council members asked about construction timing, oversight and homeowner protections. Krashki said the program uses third-party inspectors to certify work and commits to restoring properties to previous conditions, and that construction would likely start in spring (earliest mobilization in late winter) to take advantage of the next construction season.
What happens next: council members signaled interest in moving the CIP contract to a future agenda and asked the manager for more detail on financing, program safeguards and how reimbursement would work for owners who already replaced lines.
Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Community Infrastructure Partners at the Wesley Town Council meeting, July 21, 2025. Quotations attributed to Sean Krashki and Sean Agot are from the recorded council presentation.
