Providence Water Secures $26.3 Million Loan for Lead Pipe Replacement

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Workers engaged in replacing lead service lines to ensure safer drinking water for Providence residents.

News Summary

Providence Water has obtained a $26.3 million loan from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank to accelerate its lead service line replacement initiative. The funding, which includes $12.8 million in grants, aims to eliminate lead service lines from homes, impacting 600,000 residents. The program has successfully replaced around 3,000 lines since 2021 and seeks to eradicate all lead service lines by 2033, reinforcing public health in the state.

Providence, Rhode Island – Providence Water has secured a substantial $26.3 million loan from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank to expedite its lead service line replacement program. This investment is a key component of the state’s ongoing infrastructure improvements and includes $12.8 million in grant funding, significantly reducing the effective loan repayment amount for the utility to $13.5 million.

The initiative focuses on eliminating old private-side lead service lines from homes, ensuring safer drinking water for the community. Providence Water serves approximately 600,000 residents across numerous communities, providing essential water services to over 75,000 direct retail customers in cities including Providence, North Providence, Cranston, Johnston, and Smithfield.

This recent funding will directly aid hundreds of customers in replacing lead service lines at no cost, enhancing public health in the region. The initiative has gained attention for its efficient use of federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which aims to support similar projects across the country.

Since 2021, Providence Water has successfully replaced about 3,000 lead service lines using a mix of federal grants, loans, and state funding. This year marks the second consecutive time the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank has issued significant loan support for this important effort, emphasizing the state’s commitment to public health.

Dr. Jerry Larkin, the director of the R.I. Department of Health, has underlined the urgent necessity of replacing lead service lines, pointing out that no level of lead exposure is considered safe. The state’s ambitious goal is to eliminate all lead service lines across Rhode Island by 2033, a target strengthened by the passage of the Rhode Island Lead Poisoning Prevention Act.

To assist residents in understanding potential lead exposure in their homes, the R.I. Department of Health has created an interactive mapping tool. This tool allows homeowners to check if they have lead service lines. Currently, there are 31,513 lead lines, 205,889 non-lead lines, and 56,756 lines of unknown material identified throughout the state.

Water utilities in the state are required to conduct routine testing to monitor for safety and lead levels in drinking water. The federal government has set a nationwide goal of replacing up to 9 million lead pipes within a decade, allocating substantial funding to help support these efforts. Over the past 16 years, Providence Water has invested approximately $85 million in replacing public lead service lines, yet there are still about 23,000 private lead service lines and 8,400 public lead service lines remaining in its distribution system.

For property owners looking to replace private lead service lines, Providence Water offers grants and interest-free loans to ease the financial burden. In 2022, the utility initiated grant programs specifically designed for homeowners unable to afford the costs of replacing lead pipes. The Lead Poisoning Prevention Act mandates the replacement of all existing lead service lines by 2033, representing a significant legislative and community effort aimed at enhancing the safety and health of all Rhode Islanders.