Residents applaud city initiative to replace lead lines

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz revealed the details of the $10 million Customer Lead Line Replacement Program Tuesday, which will replace every customer lead service line in the city.

“Ever since the Flint water crisis that has been in the back of my mind,” says Robert Hannon, who has lived in Toledo’s Historic Old West End for almost 30 years. “We use filtered water ever since we moved down here.”

The Old West End has homes well over 100-years-old, some of which have lead pipes. “I love my neighborhood, don’t get me wrong. This is my favorite neighborhood in the city,” says Hannon. I’m very glad they are talking about fixing the lead lines.”

“Even a small amount of lead in somebody’s bloodstream can be disastrous, especially for children. While there is no threat of lead exposure through the water some people might receive their water through lead pipes,” says At-Large City Councilman Nick Komives. “And we just want to get those changed in advance of any potential problem.”

“I appreciate the investment in the infrastructure. I appreciate that. I’m a homeowner here and the city is reinvesting into what we bring,” says Natalie Vorst, an Old West End resident of two decades.

“One of the reason’s I live here is the preservation of the old homes and I take care of my home for that exact reason,” Vorst says she believes the program will be good in the long run, because it will help maintain the neighborhood’s history. “The fact that we can even think about leaving the legacy of making this a better place and having it around for 200 more years, I think it’s wonderful.”

How to find out if you have lead pipes:

1. Scratch pipe with a penny. If the pipe turns from shiny to silver, you have a lead pipe.

2. If you place a magnet on a pipe and it sticks, you have a galvanized iron pipe.

3. If you take a penny and place it next to your pipe and it’s a color match, you have a copper pipe.

If you believe that you have lead pipes, click here and fill out the questionnaire.

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