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Council adopts amendments on lead/galvanized service-line replacements, adds financial assistance for low‑income households
Summary
Councilmembers approved two amendments to Bill 54‑26 clarifying when the county will replace noncompliant water service lines and establishing financial assistance and income‑based protections; DPW said so far inventory shows mostly galvanized lines and estimated 800–1,200 may require replacement.
On July 6 the Anne Arundel County Council approved two amendments to Bill 54‑26 addressing replacement of noncompliant water service lines and how those replacements will be funded.
Sponsor Councilman Volke framed the bill as a follow‑up to earlier work on lead‑service‑line replacement. He said the amendments reflect discussions with the Department of Public Works and aim to align responsibilities where the county’s upstream infrastructure likely contributed corrosion into private galvanized plumbing.
Erin Day, assistant director at DPW, told the council that the department has moved from voluntary reporting to active investigation, which requires accessing properties and digging to inspect service lines. Day said the county has identified about 50 galvanized private lines in its pilot testing and estimates 800–1,200 may require replacement as the inventory continues. "We do suspect that if there will be a financial obligation that comes with the discovery of lead, that they won't allow us on the property," Day warned, adding that financial obligations could hinder the inventory effort.
Amendment 1 clarifies circumstances under which the county shall replace lines and adjusts payment responsibility when galvanized pipe likely contains lead that originated from county infrastructure; the administration expressed support for the amendment. The roll call on Amendment 1 was 7‑0 in favor.
Amendment 2 creates income‑based financial assistance: households at or below 80% of area median income or those with tenants participating in county, state, or federal housing assistance programs would have the county cover replacement costs; higher‑income households would receive partial county support. The amendment passed 7‑0.
DPW staff emphasized the federal reporting and replacement schedule obligations (inventory due to MDE by November 2027 and a requirement to replace roughly 10% of identified lines annually), and staff recommended balancing inspection efficacy with equitable funding. Councilmembers emphasized protecting low‑income homeowners from lien or sale‑time debt and the need to avoid discouraging voluntary cooperation during inventory.
What happens next: The bill as amended will be scheduled for the July 20 hearing; DPW must continue inventory work and coordinate any assistance program implementation with budget and program design teams.
