The EquiFlow Lead-Free Program is an innovative partnership between the City of Wausau and Community Infrastructure Partners (CIP) to ensure Wausau residents have access to safe, lead-free drinking water by replacing up to 8,000 lead service lines by 2028.
Using the CBP3 delivery model established by the EPA, the EquiFlow Lead-Free program is focused on replacing lead services lines quickly and effectively while creating socioeconomic and community benefits, including maximizing local, small, and minority-business utilization.
When present, a lead service line can be the largest contributor of lead in drinking water. Unfortunately, replacing a lead service line can be very costly for homeowners!
Click the “schedule verification” link above to schedule your brief service line verification or contact us to learn more about the program.
A lead service line is a pipe that connects your home to the public water supply system. It’s called a “lead service line” because it is often made of lead, a toxic metal. The figure below is a simplified illustration of the components of a service line installation.
Lead service lines can leak lead into your drinking water, posing serious health risks, especially for children and pregnant women. Even low levels of lead exposure can harm your health over time. Lead exposure from drinking water can lead to developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems in children. In adults, it can cause high blood pressure, kidney problems, and reproductive issues. Visit these expert sites to learn more:
When water leaves the City’s water treatment plant, it is lead free. The water mains in the street transporting water from the treatment plant are made of lead-free materials and do not add lead to the drinking water.
Lead can get into drinking water from the plumbing inside your home or the service line between the street and your home. When water sits in the service line or your home plumbing without being used for several hours, the lead may dissolve into the water. For example, these time periods include when the water is first drawn in the morning or in the afternoon after not being used all day.
Lead was commonly used for water service lines until the 1950s, and also commonly used in household plumbing fixtures (faucets, valves, sinks, shower heads, hose bibs, etc.) and solder into the late 1980s, when it was banned. From 1986 to 2014, plumbing fixtures could contain up to 8% lead to be categorized as “Lead free.” However, current standards for “lead-free” fixtures allow no more than 0.25% of lead content.
There are several steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead:
Always buy plumbing fixtures (faucets, valves, sinks, shower heads, hose bibs, etc.) that have zero-lead or low-lead content.
Read the labels of any new plumbing fixtures closely.Always use fresh, cold, running water for drinking, cooking and preparing baby formula.
Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water does not remove lead and can increase lead concentration.
Regularly remove and clean faucet screens and aerators.
Obtain an NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) Certified home water treatment device to remove lead.
Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead and any copper piping with lead solder.
Enroll in the EquFlow Lead-Free Program to have your lead service lines replaced.
When present, a lead service line can be the largest contributor of lead in drinking water. Unfortunately, replacing a lead service line can cost up to $20,000! With the EquiFlow Lead-Free Program, you pay nothing to have your line’s material inspected and replaced if it’s made of lead.