“I think it’s unfair”: Grand Junction discusses possible payment options for replacing lead pipes

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – Grand Junction has reported 365 service lines that need to be replaced due to lead pipes, but how replacements will be paid for is still up in the air. The city is responsible for replacing all city-owned and municipal lead pipes, but homeowners are responsible for replacing their pipes.

At a city council workshop meeting on Monday, February 24, four options were discussed to fund the replacement of privately owned lead pipes. The first option is homeowners will be responsible for the full cost of pipe replacement, an option that does not sit well with homeowners. “I think it’s unfair especially since not all of us bought our properties when the homes were built. We weren’t informed of what was in the pipes, we are supposed to be informed when there’s lead,” said Gretchen McGeeney, Grand Junction resident. The second option proposed is a payback plan, instead of the homeowner paying the full cost upfront, a charge would go on their monthly water bill. The third option presented was finding grant funding, but the city said there were several limitations to that money. “We estimated only 38% of our lines would be eligible for grant funding,” said Randi Kim Grand Junction Utilities director. The fourth option proposed is using the Water Enterprise Fund to pay for the replacement of the privately owned pipes ‚but a city ordinance states that the enterprise money can’t be used for private infrastructure. Kim said they are looking to seek an ordinance change to use the funding.

The other concern for Grand Junction residents is whether the water that flows through the lead pipes is safe to drink. Kim said the water is completely safe, she adds the city has done extensive testing and according to their standards, the water has repeatedly come back in the clear.

If you are worried your house may have lead pipes, click HERE, you can plug in your address to find the status of your service line.

The city is required to have all lead pipes replaced by 2037, but Kim said she believes the city can accomplish all replacements before then.