May 17, 2025 11a
(WGTD)---The Kenosha Water Utility plans to dramatically pick up the pace of replacing unhealthy lead line water laterals, thanks to an increase in federal and state funding.
The increase is accompanied by a change in policy. In two census tracts where this year's work will be focused, property owners are being required to work with the utility in replacing lead pipes that run from the street into homes and businesses.
The 'stick and carrot' approach includes a bigger carrot: Unlike in previous years, lead pipe replacement will come at no cost to the property owner.
Since the program began in 2018, over 1,000 lead pipes have been replaced. But there are more than 8,000 that remain.
This year, the utility has $7.7 million to spend on the replacement project—that’s more than double last year’s amount. Utility General Manager Curt Czarnecki says that means hundreds of additional lines can be replaced. "It will be an a very aggressive schedule but starting here in early June through around the mid-November time frame we will be doing a pretty significant number of replacements," he said.
That number is between 700 and 900.
The utility has contacted all of the property owners in the targeted areas, seeking the return of ‘right of entry and release’ forms. An accompanying letter warns property owners that failing to return the form by May 30th "may result in an interruption to your water service until the form is received."
The targeted areas are in the central and southeast parts of the city.
On Monday, the Board of Water Commissioners is expected to award this year's lead pipe replacement work to a pair of contractors.
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