Replacing lead lines at record speed
Over 23,000 lead service lines were replaced with copper pipes in less than three years, at no cost to residents or homeowners.
Practices
Priorities
Advancing safe water through rapid infrastructure renewal
Newark took swift action to remedy its public health emergency by launching a $170 million Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program. Initially planned as an eight-year initiative, the city accelerated the effort through strong local leadership, close collaboration, and deep community engagement.
Empowering communities through outreach
Newark’s success was built on resident engagement, education, and local employment, ensuring trust and cooperation citywide.
Deploying data for smarter management
A GIS-based dashboard enabled real-time tracking and coordination among city staff, contractors, and consultants.
Enhancing water safety with treatment
Point-of-use filters protected residents during replacement, reducing levels below federal action limits.
How a public health crisis became a blueprint for lead-free drinking water
Beyond the physical replacement of the service lines, this project involves careful coordination and communication between the city, consultants, contractors and residents. As a community-based project built on trust and safety, there are many steps taken to reach, educate, get buy-in, and even employ Newark residents.
Newark’s accelerated program is a model of efficiency and equity, replacing all lead service lines citywide through collaboration and innovation. “Newark was able to move quickly because all of the pieces were in place early on,” said Kim Gaddy of Clean Water Action. The city’s efforts, supported by CDM Smith, delivered measurable public health improvements and national recognition for its community-centered approach.
Driving success through a strong database and management system
“It's critical to have clean data so that we have all of our stakeholders on the same page,” said Mark Zito, Trinnex’s GIS specialist. Zito helped pull together a comprehensive dashboard to share digestible real-time project information like how many lines have been replaced to date or a timeline of the replacement rate since the start of the project. Most of this key information is also shared on the public-facing website in multiple languages.