KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo plans to get the lead out in the Eastside Neighborhood, and they hope to get a low interest loan from the DEQ to help pay for it.
Utilities Director James Baker says the plan is to replace 1350 lead service lines with copper in 2020 in an area of the city where there is a high concentration of the older lines.
He says it will cost about $9.5-million to do the work. While Kalamazoo has always had the corrosion controls in place to avoid lead leaching from the lines, the issue that caused problems in Flint, the best solution is replacing the lines.
Unlike other communities where similar work is being done, homeowners will not be assessed for the line replacements in Kalamazoo.
Baker will be asking City Commissioners next Monday night to approve an application for the State loan program.
