Lead Service Line and Water Main Replacement Program

As part of American Water national initiative to remove lead from their water systems by 2033, Greeley and Hansen worked on the initial pilot with Indiana American Water. To date, we have removed thousands of lead lines across the state for homes, schools, daycares and businesses. 

The pilot for the program started with a paper flow chart and a list of addresses. The first street made things seem simple. Homeowners were easy to contact, yards were flat, and there was room to work. The list of challenges was small. As the program has progressed, we have learned that not every project will be like the first. The challenges have been many, and the program has evolved into a more effective and efficient system. The project team has inspectors working in multiple communities across the state and they are continuing to be a part of this process to provide safe water to the customers of Indiana.  

Project Highlights 

• Tracking lead service line replacement information in an electronic format was crucial, moving from the initial highlighted version of an excel spreadsheet to ESRI based tools and GPS data recording vastly improved the quality and accuracy of the program.  
• Customer outreach takes time and effort. While there was no one communication method that worked for all customers, persistent effort led to higher participation and a successful program.  
• Field staff implemented a flexible approach as not all replacements are equal. Some homes had easy access and space to work while other homes had limited space for equipment and workers.