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City says lead service replacement program is ahead of federal schedule after 71 services replaced
Summary
The city's construction superintendent reported the lead-and-copper replacement program has identified and replaced 71 lead services and reduced unknown service counts substantially; staff said the program aims to finish well ahead of the 2037 EPA deadline.
Construction superintendent Deandre Holmes Wilfork told commissioners the city's lead-and-copper program is progressing and that the team has located and replaced 71 lead services to date.
"Since we began, we have located and replaced 71 lead services," Deandre said, describing the group's use of predictive modeling and targeted "soft digs" to identify high‑risk addresses and verify field conditions.
He said the program began with roughly 35,000 "unknowns" out of about 45,000 services and that field verification and data improvements have reduced unknowns substantially; the team currently reported about 14,600 unknowns remaining but that predictive modeling accuracy improves as more verification data are entered.
Deandre explained crews replace the lead gooseneck from the corporation stop to the meter and noted galvanized segments connected to removed lead fittings must also be replaced to avoid contamination. He said the program is ahead of the American Water Works/EPA timeline and aims to finish well before the regulatory 2037 deadline, contingent on continued materials and funding.
Commissioners asked about using billing data and field verification; Deandre said the city uses vendor data (Trinex) and internal records to improve target lists and that soft digs help refine predictive models.
Staff asked the commission to approve purchase of materials to continue the program and emphasized the effort's public‑health importance and progress to date.
