Jason Stein

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON - Milwaukee and other cities around Wisconsin would get new tools for replacing lead water pipes, under draft legislation being circulated to lawmakers.

The proposal by state Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) wouldn't provide local officials with any new state money to address an issue made infamous by the recent poisoning of children in Flint, Mich., by lead in that city's drinking water. But the bill would give local water utilities more flexibility from state rules as they seek to do the work themselves.

The proposal would allow a city council and water utility to provide financial assistance for replacing the lead service lines to someone’s house or apartment building, potentially helping ordinary homeowners afford the upgrade.

While lead pipes are sometimes perceived as a Milwaukee problem, the toxic heavy metal lurks in at least 200,000 service lines all over Wisconsin. Lead pipes lie beneath the streets and sidewalks of cities like Oshkosh, Wausau and Manitowoc where old homes and buildings can be found.

"It's extensive across the state," Cowles said. "It's not everywhere, but it's in most communities."

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In the city of Milwaukee alone, there are nearly 70,000 residential properties with lead pipes that local officials are struggling to replace. Milwaukee's focus this year is on replacing lead pipes at more than 300 state-licensed day care centers, and homes that have emergency lead lateral breaks or leaks.

An $11 million federal grant last year is addressing a mere 3% of the statewide problem, Cowles said.

Using figures from municipalities and state regulators, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found there are:

12,900 lead service lines in Racine's water system and 9,100 in Kenosha's

8,000 lead lines in Oshkosh

7,600 in Wausau

7,500 in Sheboygan

6,700 in West Allis

6,600 in Manitowoc

A plan from Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and the Common Council would have the city pick up two-thirds of the cost of lateral replacement for homeowners using federal grant money passed through the state. But under previous decisions by the state Public Service Commission, money from water utility ratepayers as a group can't be used to help individual city homeowners.

Cowles' proposal would change that. To use water utility money for helping homeowners, the local city council or other municipal board would need to pass an ordinance approving the plan.

The help to homeowners and other property owners could range from low-interest or no-interest loans to grants paying some of the replacement cost. Cities could also use an income threshold to target the very neediest families for help.

Aides to top legislative leaders didn't respond to requests for comment on the bill. But by avoiding the use of state tax dollars, Cowles has given his proposal a reasonable chance of passing the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Mary Spicuzza of the Journal Sentinel staff in Milwaukee contributed to this report.