MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) — Menasha Utilities has completed the process of replacing all identified lead or galvanized water laterals.
Menasha had previously reported lead levels in some homes in the city were above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action limit. Menasha Utilities has replaced a total of 636 laterals, and has finished the project five years ahead of schedule.
Adam Smith, the Water Utility Manager at Menasha Utilities, says lead can have serious health effects if ingested through drinking water or other sources.
“Lead has the ability to delay mental and physical development, especially in children,” said Smith. “It can also increase blood pressure in adults.”
After the city identified the laterals in 2017, the Utility and the city then developed a program to replace those laterals.
The community’s program made it affordable for homeowners to safely replace their lead laterals with $1.1 million in grant funding secured from the State’s Safe Drinking Water Fund. Homeowners paid for one third of the cost of the replacement with an option to pay over 5 years at 0% interest. Additionally, the City covered the cost of street repairs, and Menasha Utilities replaced the portion from the shutoff to the main.
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