PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – A coalition of Rhode Islander leaders will gather Monday afternoon to launch the “lead free is the way to be” initiative.
Providence Water, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, and the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank are partnering to carry out the new program. They will jointly announce $1 million in funds to support property owners in removing lead from their water.
The aim of the program is to bring awareness to the possibility of lead in the Providence water supply and to fund testing and safeguards against the use of contaminated water.
Providence Water says that while water sourced from the Scituate Reservoir does not contain lead, the service lines from the main water line to individual properties could be made of lead.
There are an estimated 12,300 lead public service lines and an estimated 25,000 private lead service lines currently serving Providence, Cranston, North Providence, Johnston, and East Smithfield, according to Providence Water.
Local officials will take part in demonstrations this afternoon to show homeowners how to check their plumbing for lead contamination and how to prevent lead in their water supply.
