News Article

Lead Reduction Program excellence recognized by national group

Groundbreaking Denver Water program honored for leadership in replacing customer-owned lead pipes.

The Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative in June recognized 16 people and programs that have demonstrated excellence in one or more facets of lead service line replacement.

The “Honoring Excellence in LSL Replacement” initiative, which held its recognition ceremony in June alongside the Denver-based American Water Works Association’s annual convention, aims to spotlight the many communities working to remove lead service lines from their water systems and reduce the health risks of lead exposure.

Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program, a groundbreaking initiative that began in 2020, was recognized for “Outstanding Leadership in LSL Replacement,” indicating the collaborative’s members recognized the utility’s work to replace an estimated 64,000 customer-owned lead service lines in the metro area — at no direct cost to the customer — across multiple categories.

A view from above of a construction worker in a trench holding an old pipe. — Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program in 2020 began replacing an estimated 64,000 customer-owned lead service lines at no direct cost to the customer. Photo credit: Denver Water.

"It takes a community working together to tackle the legacy of lead service lines. The goal of our program was to do the right thing, and we're excited to be part of the national movement working — together as one — toward a lead-free future, " said Alexis Woodrow, Denver Water's manager of the Lead Reduction Program.

The water that Denver Water provides to homes and businesses is lead-free, but lead can get into water as it moves through lead-containing household fixtures, plumbing and water service lines — the pipe that brings water into the property from the water main in the street — that are owned by the customer.

The program provides free water pitchers, filters and replacement filters to customers with lead pipes to use until six months after their lead service line is replaced. Denver Water also is adjusting and maintaining a protective pH level in the water it delivers to reduce the risk of lead and other metals getting into drinking water from lead service lines or household plumbing.

A woman stands in front of a sign that says, "Lead Reduction Program." — Alexis Woodrow, manager of Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program. Photo credit: Denver Water.

In addition to Denver Water, two other water utilities were recognized for outstanding leadership for their work replacing lead service lines in their communities: DC Water for it’s Lead Free DC initiative, which started in 2019 to replace an estimated 42,000 lead service lines; and the EquiFlow Lead-Free Program, which expects to replace an estimated 8,000 lead service lines in Wausau, Wisconsin, by 2028.

“Replacing toxic lead service lines is imperative to ensure our children can lead healthy lives and reach their full potential. That’s why the Collaborative is keeping the spotlight on the dedicated crews and communities that are making it happen, especially communities that began replacing their lead service lines voluntarily, before there was a legal obligation to do so,” said Roya Alkafaji, manager for healthy communities for the Environmental Defense Fund and also a member of the collaborative’s steering committee.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent estimate is that more than 4 million lead service lines remain connected to water systems in the United States.

There is no safe level of lead. It is especially harmful for young children, affecting brain development and contributing to lower IQs. Launched in the wake of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the collaborative is a consortium of 28 national organizations committed to accelerating the replacement of lead service lines by providing how-to resources, amplifying good practices, and facilitating cross-sector collaboration.

A man in an orange safety vest and hard hat picks up a coil of new copper pipe. — Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program replaces customer-owned lead service lines with lead-free copper pipes at no direct cost to the customer. Photo credit: Denver Water.

“Lead service line replacement is complex. It involves communicating with the public about health risks, engaging homeowners, coordinating planning and implementing thoughtful program design. A water utility can do some of that, but we see much more effective programs when they partner with public health organizations and community groups to leverage each other’s strengths. Today’s award recipients are real-life examples of the dedication that so many types of stakeholders are bringing to this task,” said Lynn Thorp, president of Clean Water Action, an environmental advocacy group, and also a member of the collaborative’s steering committee.

This recognition event marks the collaborative’s 10th anniversary.

Over that time, water systems and communities across the country have made great strides in replacing lead service lines. Awardees were recognized for excelling in areas that align with the collaborative’s principles for lead service line replacement, including technical efficiency, fiscal savvy, community engagement and equal access to services. The ceremony also honored individuals who have demonstrated longstanding leadership in the space.