Совет мэрии Вausau отклонил законопроект о замене свинцовых труб из-за нехватки финансирования

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - Wausau city officials voted down an ordinance Tuesday that would have mandated the removal and replacement of lead pipes. The ordinance would have required removing lead pipes from both public and private properties. It would also ensure compliance with state and federal regulations around lead pipes and safe drinking water. Lead pipes can contaminate drinking water, causing a range of long-term health effects as lead builds up in the body. Eric Lindman, Wausau’s Director of Public Works and Utilities, was at Tuesday’s meeting and fielded questions from council members about the impact of the ordinance. The biggest concern from city officials was funding for those who can’t afford to replace their lead pipes, and where that money would come from. “There’s a Gap funding there on the private side that has to be funded,” said Lindman in an interview with NewsChannel7. “And up to date, the City Council has been carrying that through general obligation debt, making it no cost to property owners. And that’s... getting to be a struggle for taking on more debt for the city.” After a long debate, council voted down the ordinance, but will discuss it again later this month. Eventually passing the ordinance could allow the city to find ways to cover or offset costs to residents, said Lindman. “As of right now, we only have so much funding available to replace lead lines. And we’re hoping to get as much grant funding as we can to help alleviate any costs, either to the city or to the property owners,” said Lindman. But Lindman also stressed that the city’s hands are tied when it comes to replacing these pipes. “This is a federal mandate. This isn’t a mandate that the city’s making.” Federal rules require all lead pipes owned by water agencies to be replaced in the next 10 years. Click here to download the WSAW news app or WSAW First Alert weather app. Click here to submit a news tip or story idea.