The City of Jackson is preparing to apply for a $3m loan to replace the city’s lead water service lines.
Michigan’s Lead and Copper, put into law after the Flint Water crisis, requires municipalities to begin replacing lead lines this year.
Jackson must replace over 11,000 lead service lines within the next 35 years, with the projected cost of about $120m.
The first step in the loan is a public hearing set for the June 8th city council meeting.
The city meets requirements for the Disadvantaged Community Lead Service Line Replacement Program, due to the city’s high volume of low-income residents.
If the loan is approved, Jackson won’t receive the funds until spring of 2022.
The city council approved a 12% water and 4% sewer rate increase for residents each year over the next two years after Jackson lost around $1.1m in revenue when Consumers Energy drilled a well at the Chapin Street power plant.
