The EquiFlow Lead-Free Program is a groundbreaking initiative, formed through a partnership between the City of Wausau and Community Infrastructure Partners (CIP), to provide Wausau residents with safe, lead-free drinking water by replacing up to 8,000 lead service lines by 2028. Launched with the support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, this program is designed to eliminate lead from our drinking water and enhance the quality of life for our community.
Using the EPA-endorsed CBP3 delivery model, the EquiFlow Lead-Free Program focuses on quickly and efficiently replacing lead service lines while generating local and socioeconomic benefits, including the involvement of small and minority-owned businesses in the project. Wausau’s drinking water is lead-free when it leaves the treatment plant, but lead can enter water through old lead-containing service lines and household plumbing. This program is free of charge for homeowners, covering all costs for inspections and any necessary lead service line replacements.
A water service line is the pipe that brings water from the main line in the street to your home’s water meter. The city owns the section from the main to the curb stop, while the homeowner owns the part from the curb stop to the water meter. These lines may be made of materials like copper, polyethylene, lead, or galvanized steel. Lead service lines were widely used before the 1950s, and if your home has one, this program offers a critical opportunity for a free replacement, significantly boosting your property’s value and ensuring safer drinking water.
The primary goal is to replace all lead service lines in Wausau with safe copper lines, eliminating the biggest potential source of lead in the city’s water systems.
As an additional safety measure, the program provides free water pitchers, filters, and replacement cartridges to residents, ensuring lead-free drinking water until six months after their line has been replaced.
Wausau is conducting a Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization Study to improve corrosion control and minimize the risk of lead leaching from household plumbing materials.
Service line replacements are planned on an annual basis, prioritizing neighborhoods with a high presence of lead lines, underserved areas, and opportunities to align with other city construction activities. This ensures efficient use of resources while maximizing community benefits.
To identify properties with lead service lines, the program uses property records, visual inspections, and a simple self-verification process available on our website. To schedule an inspection, please contact the EquiFlow program team.
Properties that may have lead service lines are automatically enrolled in the EquiFlow Lead-Free Program for verification, so no need to contact us unless you have additional questions.
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