Bloomfield Gets $480K To Replace Old Lead Water Pipes Throughout Town

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield is getting a federal funding boost to help the township replace thousands of old water pipes, officials say.

Township officials recently announced that Bloomfield has been awarded $480,000 in federal funding through a fiscal year 2026 congressionally directed spending appropriation.

New Jersey passed a state law in 2021 that requires water providers to replace all of their lead service lines within 10 years. Read More: New Jersey Is Replacing Its Lead Water Pipes – All Of Them

The pipes – which connect local homes and businesses to the local water supply – can potentially leach lead contamination as water passes through them. A portion of the pipes may be privately owned, complicating efforts to replace them.

Bloomfield kicked off its replacement campaign in 2020. Since launching the program, the town has inspected nearly 3,500 service lines and replaced over 1,575 lead and galvanized lines.

The township continues to advance this work through multiple projects. Earlier this year, Bloomfield accepted bids for lead service line inspection and replacement along Ferncliff Road. Bloomfield will also launch Phase 5 of its Lead Service Line Replacement program this year, which will inspect, inventory and replace about 2,000 additional service lines.

“Bringing federal resources back to communities like Bloomfield is one of the most important parts of my job,” U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said.

“This investment will help accelerate the township’s lead service line replacement efforts, protect families from the dangers of lead exposure, and support Bloomfield’s long-term infrastructure goals,” Booker added.

Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell said that township administrators have been making lead service line replacement one of their top priorities.

“Ensuring that every home in Bloomfield is served by safe, modern water infrastructure is essential to our community’s future,” Mundell said.

Bloomfield has received other federal funding to help it with pipe replacement, including an infusion of federal funds from the COVID-era American Rescue Plan.

• See Related: Bloomfield Announces Plans For $26M In COVID Recovery Funds
• See Related: Federal Omnibus Bill Has Money For Pipe Project In Bloomfield

“We remain committed to eliminating every lead and galvanized line before the 2031 deadline,” township engineer Paul Lasek said last year. “It’s a mission rooted in public health, and we take great pride in the progress we’ve made so far.”

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