Page 13 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

City to receive $4.9 million to replace lead lines

By Sarah Shurge • If you do not have a lead service
The City of Wayne is one step line, run the water for 30 seconds to
closer to ensuring safe drinking two minutes, or until it becomes cold
water for all residents with the lead or reaches a steady temperature.
line replacement project. • If you do have a lead service
During the Wayne City Council line, run the water for at least five
Meeting on Tuesday, July 11th, State minutes to flush water from your
Senator Darrin Camilleri and State home or building’s plumbing and the
Representative Kevin Coleman an- lead service line.
nounced that the 2023 state budget • Clean your faucet aerator to re-
will include $4.9 million for lead line move trapped debris.
replacement for homes in the City of • Consider using a filter to re-
Wayne. duce lead in drinking water. (Note:
This funding will allow the city to The Department of Health and
replace 400+ lead service lines that Human Services (DHHS) recom-
continue to pose a significant health mends that any household with a
risk to residents. child or pregnant woman use cold
"Lead lines are a public health cri- water and a certified lead filter to re-
sis across the country,” said Lisa No- Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the omnibus bill that includes $4.9 million for move lead from their drinking water,
cerini, City Manager. “With the especially when preparing baby for-
funding secured for the City of the City of Wayne. Photo by John Rhaesa mula.)
Wayne by State Senator Darrin • Do not use hot water for drink-
Camilleri and State Representative ing, preparing food, or cooking, or
Kevin Coleman, we are now able to preparing baby formula.
replace these lines in a more equi- • Do not boil your water. (Boiling
table and much more efficient man- will not reduce the amount of lead in
ner.” water)
Senator Camilleri and Represen- • Check whether your home has
tative Coleman partnered up to en- a lead service line.
sure that Wayne was a priority in the "We have over 400 lead service
recently passed state omnibus bill lines here in our city. Our goal and
and presented a check to the City of Receiving the ceremonial check from State Senator Darrin Camilleri and State Rep- our plan that we set out to accom-
Wayne for $4.9 million at the council resentative Kevin Coleman. From left to right, City Manager Lisa Nocerini, Council- plish back in 2020 is the full replace-
meeting. man Mathew Mulholland, Councilwoman Deb Wass, Councilman Eric Cleereman, ment of all lead service lines. This
On Monday, August 1st, Gover- critical funding will help to expedite
nor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Senator Camilleri, Mayor John Rhaesa, Building and Engineering Director Michael those replacements so everyone can
omnibus bill that includes $4.9 mil- Buiten, State Representative Coleman, Assistant Department of Public Works Direc- have access to safe drinking water in
lion for the City of Wayne. tor Ed Queen, former Mayor Pro Tem Tom Porter, Councilman Kevin Dowd, and their homes." said Mike Buiten,
Wayne Mayor John Rhaesa repre- Wayne Building and Engineering Di-
sented the City of Wayne at the bill Mayor Pro Tem Alfred Brock. Photo by Jonathan Mason rector.
signing. The funding will officially be avail- of Wayne Department of Public The city has been sending notifi-
“The City of Wayne is incredibly able by or on October 1st. This will Works (DPW) listed for you to reduce cations to all homes per a state re-
grateful for their [Senator Camilleri help to expedite the replacements. your exposure to lead in drinking quirement about this matter since
and Representative Coleman] hard In accordance with the Michigan water: 2020. To check if your home has a
work getting the $4.9 million in the Safe Drinking Water Act, the follow- • Run your water to flush out lead line, please contact the Wayne
omnibus bill," said Nocerini. ing are examples of methods the City lead-containing water. DPW at (734)721-8600.

The Wayne Dispatch · August 2023 · 13