Indiana American Water Awarded Nearly $19 Million in Funds to Replace Lead Service Lines in Gary, Indiana
GREENWOOD, Ind. (March 12, 2024) – Indiana American Water today announced that the Indiana Finance Authority has awarded nearly $19 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF) to help fund replacement or retirement of approximately 4,000 lead service lines (LSL) in Gary, Ind. The award includes a $6 million forgivable loan and a $12.9 million no-interest loan to be used for work performed over the next two years.
“We greatly appreciate this support from the State of Indiana as we work to proactively address the long-standing issue of lead service lines across the state,” said Indiana American Water President Matt Prine. “These funds will make our lead service line removal program even more affordable and speed up our efforts to get the lead out of Indiana once and for all.”
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Programs provide low-interest loans to Indiana communities for projects that improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment.
“With new compliance requirements on the horizon for later this year, Indiana water utilities are looking for ways to expedite the removal of lead service lines in their communities,” said Dan Huge, public finance director of the State of Indiana. “We appreciate Indiana American Water’s efforts over the last several years to remove lead service lines and are pleased to lend support to their efforts in Gary, which has one of the highest concentrations of LSLs in the state.”
Indiana American Water has already invested nearly $97 million to replace or remove almost 30,000 lead service lines, or about 54 percent of the known LSLs in its service areas across the state. Indiana American Water was the first water utility in the state to file a plan for lead service line replacement following passage of House Enrolled Act 1519 in 2017. HEA 1519 contained a process for water utilities to obtain authority to replace customer-owned lead service lines, even though the lines are not owned by the utility.
Indiana American Water estimates that there were as many as 55,000 lead service lines in use just a few years ago in its service areas across the state, with about two-thirds of those located in northwest Indiana.
It is important to note that if a customer’s service lines contain lead, it does not mean they cannot use water as they normally do. Indiana American Water samples for lead in drinking water on a routine basis and provides corrosion control treatment where needed to mitigate potential threats and the water delivered to customers meets state and federal water quality regulations, including those set for lead.
Indiana American Water recently launched a lead education campaign with several resources for customers, including a step-by-step tutorial showing how to identify pipe material, answers to frequently asked questions, information on steps we take to reduce the potential for lead to leach from customer plumbing, and a video on how Indiana American Water is working to remove lead service lines across the state.
For more information about the steps Indiana American Water takes to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, as well as ways to assess and reduce exposure to lead at home, visit our lead resources page.
To learn more about regulations and programs developed under the Safe Drinking Water Act or if you have questions about lead in drinking water, visit the U.S. EPA's lead page or contact their Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
About Indiana Finance Authority (IFA)
Governor Mitch Daniels created the IFA in 2005 to more effectively manage State-related finances under one entity. The IFA manages various financial programs, which include the Indiana Brownfields Program and the State Revolving Loan Fund Programs.
About the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Programs
The IFA’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Programs provide low-interest loans to Indiana communities for projects that improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. The Program's mission is to provide eligible entities with the lowest interest rates possible on the financing of such projects while protecting public health and the environment. SRF also funds non-point source projects that are tied to a wastewater loan.
Stephanie McFarland
Senior Issue Management Consultant
McFarland PR & Public Affairs
317-709-8728
stephanie@mcfarlandpr.com
Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.4 million people.
GREENWOOD, Ind. (March 12, 2024) – Indiana American Water today announced that the Indiana Finance Authority has awarded nearly $19 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF) to help fund replacement or retirement of approximately 4,000 lead service lines (LSL) in Gary, Ind. The award includes a $6 million forgivable loan and a $12.9 million no-interest loan to be used for work performed over the next two years.
“We greatly appreciate this support from the State of Indiana as we work to proactively address the long-standing issue of lead service lines across the state,” said Indiana American Water President Matt Prine. “These funds will make our lead service line removal program even more affordable and speed up our efforts to get the lead out of Indiana once and for all.”
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Programs provide low-interest loans to Indiana communities for projects that improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment.
“With new compliance requirements on the horizon for later this year, Indiana water utilities are looking for ways to expedite the removal of lead service lines in their communities,” said Dan Huge, public finance director of the State of Indiana. “We appreciate Indiana American Water’s efforts over the last several years to remove lead service lines and are pleased to lend support to their efforts in Gary, which has one of the highest concentrations of LSLs in the state.”
Indiana American Water has already invested nearly $97 million to replace or remove almost 30,000 lead service lines, or about 54 percent of the known LSLs in its service areas across the state. Indiana American Water was the first water utility in the state to file a plan for lead service line replacement following passage of House Enrolled Act 1519 in 2017. HEA 1519 contained a process for water utilities to obtain authority to replace customer-owned lead service lines, even though the lines are not owned by the utility.
Indiana American Water estimates that there were as many as 55,000 lead service lines in use just a few years ago in its service areas across the state, with about two-thirds of those located in northwest Indiana.
It is important to note that if a customer’s service lines contain lead, it does not mean they cannot use water as they normally do. Indiana American Water samples for lead in drinking water on a routine basis and provides corrosion control treatment where needed to mitigate potential threats and the water delivered to customers meets state and federal water quality regulations, including those set for lead.
Indiana American Water recently launched a lead education campaign with several resources for customers, including a step-by-step tutorial showing how to identify pipe material, answers to frequently asked questions, information on steps we take to reduce the potential for lead to leach from customer plumbing, and a video on how Indiana American Water is working to remove lead service lines across the state.
For more information about the steps Indiana American Water takes to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, as well as ways to assess and reduce exposure to lead at home, visit our lead resources page.
To learn more about regulations and programs developed under the Safe Drinking Water Act or if you have questions about lead in drinking water, visit the U.S. EPA's lead page or contact their Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
About Indiana Finance Authority (IFA)
Governor Mitch Daniels created the IFA in 2005 to more effectively manage State-related finances under one entity. The IFA manages various financial programs, which include the Indiana Brownfields Program and the State Revolving Loan Fund Programs.
About the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Programs
The IFA’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Programs provide low-interest loans to Indiana communities for projects that improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. The Program's mission is to provide eligible entities with the lowest interest rates possible on the financing of such projects while protecting public health and the environment. SRF also funds non-point source projects that are tied to a wastewater loan.
Stephanie McFarland
Senior Issue Management Consultant
McFarland PR & Public Affairs
317-709-8728
stephanie@mcfarlandpr.com
Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.4 million people.