TPI May 2022

Drive to replace ageing lead pipe infrastructure leads to large number of contracting opportunities across the US By Marty Scott Nabers, president and CEO, Strategic Partnerships Inc

With no guarantee of funding assistance over recent years, a few visionary government leaders are taking on the task themselves. Their efforts are creating a huge new marketplace with large upcoming opportunities for contractors.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency there are approximately 6.5 million to 10 million lead service lines throughout the US. The American Jobs Plan has $45bn in funding earmarked for replacing the country’s lead pipes, but the bill requires Congressional approval. Consider this: an estimated 400,000 schools and child care facilities as well as millions of homes rely on water from toxic lead pipes daily in the US. That poses an eminent danger, a critical need, and a public safety issue. Yet, the problem has existed for years. We rarely stop to consider how difficult it is to be a government leader. The responsibility to identify critical needs, focus on eminent dangers, ensure public safety, and provide citizen services are monumental tasks.

Michigan

Since 2016, the city of Flint has replaced 10,000 lead and galvanised pipes in response to the realisation in 2014 that the water supply was severely contaminated. City leaders in Greenville are identifying and validating the safety of 3,400 water services lines that are underwater. Funding has become available from the Michigan Department of Environment and Great Lakes & Energy. Greenville plans to prioritise the threats and begin replacing the pipes. The city of Kalamazoo is replacing 2,000 pipe

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