Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The City of Buffalo is among U.S. cities preparing to replace lead pipes in water supplies. The Biden Administration announced this week cities have 10 years to replace lead pipes, but officials say Buffalo is ahead of the curve.
O.J. McFoy, Chair of the Buffalo Water Board, says the announcement was expected and the city has been working proactively.
"One of the things we've done as being proactive is releasing our public-facing lead service line inventory map, as well as establishing our partnership with our community organizations who really have boots on the ground to engage with the community, to make sure we're getting people lead service lines identified, as well as making sure that they're part of our plan," said McFoy in an interview with WBEN.
To get the pipes removed in 10 years calls for an effective plan. McFoy says you can help be part of the process, by going to an online survey .
"Many of them are unknown, and we need everyone's help to identify what type of service line they have coming into their home," McFoy noted.
He adds the city has committed $10 million, but says much more will be needed.
"The cost for cities like buffalo is going to be $500 million to replace our lead service line. Getting it done within this time frame is going to be a daunting task that's going to require, not only federal investment. But it's going to require investment from our residents, as well as really hoping to get philanthropic investment here in Buffalo," McFoy said.
Franchelle Parker of Open Buffalo says it's excellent news from Washington.
"We did hear that was coming as something that especially East Side residents have been extremely concerned about, and so to hear the support of the administration for homeowners and renters on the East Side, specifically," said Parker with WBEN.
Open Buffalo and other community groups partnered the Buffalo Sewer Authority to map out where the lead pipes are.
"Buffalo was ahead of the curve, releasing that map a year ahead of time," Parker said. "Where we've already been doing that work, that first step trying to figure out where these lead and galvanized pipes are in our city."
Parker notes families have to start cutting costs, and that could potentially mean starting to drink tap water.
"We also have to trust that the water we're ingesting in our bodies, that we're giving our newborn babies, that it's safe. And I think, more we'll start to see families making the decision to stop buying water that's produced in factories and plastic containers, and relying on the water that's right here in our own city, but we have to trust that it's not running through lead pipes," Parker said.
There are some 60,000 lead service pipes in Buffalo.
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