For utilities replacing lead pipes, the work starts with knowing exactly what’s in the ground.
In this segment, Yolanda McCollom of Ridgewood Water explains how a smaller system is tackling that challenge by building something essential: a single, reliable source of truth.
Ridgewood serves about 20,000–22,000 service lines, with roughly 10% identified as lead or galvanized — a scale that is manageable, but still complex. The key has been investing in a strong GIS system that tracks every address, every project, and every update in real time.
From routine maintenance to capital improvement projects, all data flows into one centralized platform. Crews, contractors, and engineers all contribute to the same system, ensuring records stay accurate and up to date.
The result: any address in the system can be quickly checked to determine what material is in the ground and what work has been completed.
Content in collaboration with New Jersey Future and Jersey Water Works.
00:00 – A Smaller System with a Manageable Challenge
00:20 – Why GIS Became Essential
00:40 – Building a “Single Source of Truth”
01:00 – Tracking Every Address and Project
01:20 – Getting Crews and Contractors Aligned
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Visit https://www.waterloop.org/
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