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The City of Oswego has received $5.5 million in federal funding to enhance its lead pipe remediation efforts. The funding, provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will be used to replace lead service lines, starting with the area near Fitzhugh Park School. This initial phase is expected to cover the replacement of between 350 and 500 service lines, addressing about 10 percent of the city's areas in need. Mayor Robert Corradino emphasized the importance of this funding, stating, "This funding is very much needed and welcomed as we address this important issue in the years to come in our community" according to CNY Central.
Oswego has approximately 8,000 drinking water lines, with over 3,000 potentially containing lead. The city is working to identify and replace these lines, with the goal of replacing all lead pipes within the next 10 years. Mayor Corradino noted that the city will continue to seek additional funds to complete the project as reported by Local SYR.
The project prioritizes areas based on socio-economic indicators and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data. Residents have been advised to take precautions, such as running faucet water for at least a minute before use, to mitigate lead exposure while the project is underway according to Oswego County Today.