Des Moines Water Works has launched a program to replace about 1,000 residential lead water service lines in the city of Des Moines, focusing the first phase of the effort on homes in a portion of Drake neighborhood.
The 400 homes in the replacement area – between 17th and 28th streets, south of University Avenue and north of Interstate 235 – were selected based on federally determined criteria from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The replacement of lead water service lines will be paid for with federal money from the State Revolving Fund. The Drake project is estimated to cost between $4 million and $4.8 million. Replacement of 1,000 lead water service lines will cost $12.1 million, according to a news release.
Water service lines are the one-half to one-inch underground pipes that carry water from a main into a residence or business. Between 1873 and 1940 in Des Moines, it was common to use lead pipes from the water main to the stop box, usually located near a sidewalk. The remainder of the line — from the stop box to the residence — was typically made of galvanized steel, Water Works officials have said…