Federal funding for lead pipe replacement can take months to close—long enough for a northern community to lose an entire construction season.
Shawn Kerachsky, president and CEO of Community Infrastructure Partners, says interim financing can keep that delay from stopping the work.
In Wausau, Wisconsin, the company provided upfront funding for planning, property access, community outreach, and contractor preparation while the city waited for government financing to close.
The EquiFlow Lead-Free Program helped Wausau move from a previous high of 55 replacements a year to more than 1,000 in just over a year. The city is working to replace approximately 8,000 lead service lines by 2028.
For small and midsized utilities, securing money for construction is only part of the challenge. Funding the work required to get projects ready can determine whether crews start digging this year—or wait until the next one.
The EquiFlow Lead-Free Program is one of 16 honorees recognized by the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative and received an Outstanding Leadership in LSL Replacement award. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e8sKJvBc
Content supported by Environmental Defense Fund, RESOLVE, and Environmental Policy Innovation Center.
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