The City of Kalamazoo has been working to identify and replace all lead or potential lead water service lines in its system. Over the past five years, it has replaced more than 3,800 lead services and identified approximately 1,343 more in the neighborhood south of Gull Road and east of the Kalamazoo River. In compliance with Michigan state requirements, the city implemented a program to replace all lead lines to ensure the health and safety of its residents.
Copper was selected as the replacement material for its sustainability, lifespan, and low environmental and health impacts. The project aimed to be completed in one construction season, with regular progress meetings ensuring timely execution. The city coordinated its road projects with Kalamazoo County Road Commission projects to minimize costs and inconvenience to residents.
In 2024, the City of Kalamazoo reached its halfway goal of 5,000 lead service replacements. The city has worked diligently to leverage funding from both State of Michigan and federal sources for the service replacements, which has significantly reduced the rate impacts of the replacement work. The city continues to proactively engage with residents and move forward with the end goal of removing all the lead from its system as quickly as possible.
Public communication has included printed materials being sent to residents, public meetings to facilitate dynamic discussions, and easily accessible web pages to make getting information more convenient for residents.