Niles Applies For State Loan To Replace Lead Pipes

nilescity-8
nilescity-8

The city of Niles needs to replace over 26-hundred lead water service lines. Utilities manager Jeff Dunlap tells our newsgathering partners at WSBT 22 it will cost the city $18 million, but says they don’t have the cash for that. The state has issued a mandate that all lead pipes need to be replaced, and Niles has a $300,000 in the budget every year to have 50 lead pipe replacements on an emergency basis. Overall, replacing the pipes and updating fire hydrants and water meters in Niles will cost over $26 million and the city council has approved applying for a low-interest loan from the state. Repaying that would cost water rate payers $1.50 a month more for the next 20 years for every $3 million borrowed. Niles was not approved for a state loan for their past dam project, which cost $12 million. They will find out in August if they are approved this time.