Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced today that the Local Finance Board has approved the $120 million bond to replace every single lead service line in the City of Newark, which will enable the city to accelerate the process of removing 18,000 such lines throughout Newark.

The city has committed itself to replacing lines at no cost to the landlord or homeowner. Landlords and homeowners can sign up for the process at the city’s website. In addition, volunteers are canvassing neighborhoods, going door-to-door to get landlords and homeowners to sign up for the program.

“The permanent solution is to replace our lead service lines and expedite this process,” Mayor Baraka said. “The Local Finance Board’s adoption of the bond provides us with the financial backing to do so, and significantly increase the pace of our work. I want to thank Governor Phil Murphy, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, and the Essex County Improvement Authority for the collaboration in making this happen. This would not have taken place without them. For Newark, this is an opportunity to excel.”

Last week, Mayor Baraka introduced a Municipal Ordinance at a City Council meeting that would require Newark to replace all lead service lines in the city. This ordinance is the first such measure ever introduced in any American municipality.

This ordinance will protect the health and safety of residents by significantly accelerating lead service line replacement. Property owners can sign up for the Lead Service Line Replacement program, and the work will be accomplished by City contractors at no expense to them. They also have the option of replacing the line at their own expense within 90 days of the ordinance’s effective date. When a property owner can’t be found or fails to sign up for the program, the City is now empowered to take all necessary steps to come on the property, without signed permission, to replace the lead service line.

Property owners who can demonstrate that lead service line replacement has already been accomplished prior to this ordinance, or that their property has no lead service line, are excluded from this ordinance.

For more information on the Lead Service Replacement Program, Newark residents can visit https://www.newarkleadserviceline.com.

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