Capital District Times

ALBANY, NY – As the City of Albany works toward its goal to replace the remaining 12,000 lead services – most of which are privately owned – by 2034, the Albany Department of Water & Water Supply has launched a new community dashboard for Albany’s Lead Service Replacement Program.  

The new tool – accessible via https://www.albanyny.gov/1932/Lead-Service-Replacement-Program – is a gateway for Albany residents to become more familiar with all aspects of the Lead Service Replacement Program, including the status of the pipe material at their own home. 

This dashboard is a one-stop-shop for all things about the Department’s lead water service replacement program, providing a public-facing inventory for all water services in Albany. Residents can also obtain information about the Department’s grant program for replacement, lead sampling and filtering, as well as completed and ongoing replacement projects.

The City of Albany launched a grant program in 2019 that covers up to $2,000 of the full lead service line replacement cost. Since 2019, the City of Albany has removed more than 700 full lead services as part of this program. The Albany Water Department also provides free water filters to any household with a water sample that tests high for lead (above 10 ppb). The City of Albany allocated $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to expand the full lead service replacement grant program.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “The Albany Water Department has been a national leader in helping educate and assist our residents to remove their lead services and replace that infrastructure with safe and sustainable materials. I commend Commissioner Coffey and the Albany Water Department team for their commitment to ensuring our residents are informed on how to ‘get the lead out’ by 2034.”

Albany Water Commissioner Joe Coffey said, "We are proud to launch this new Community Dashboard, which will provide our residents with a user-friendly tool to better understand the Lead Service Replacement Program. The Dashboard will make it easier for residents to access information and find resources related to lead service replacement."

Charles Houghton, Albany Water Board Chairman said, "Lead service replacement must be a collaborative effort between the City departments and our residents. We encourage residents to check out the new Community Dashboard and engage with us regarding their service line and options. By working together, we can ensure that all lead lines in the City of Albany are replaced as soon as possible, and that our community remains safe and healthy.

For more information about the Lead Service Replacement Program and to access the new Community Dashboard, please visit https://www.albanyny.gov/1932/Lead-Service-Replacement-Program #GetTheLeadOutAlbany

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