Lead Pipe Replacement In Bloomfield: 3,400 Lines Inspected So Far

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield has been making progress on its effort to identify and replace thousands of old water pipes in the township, officials say.

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.

Since launching its lead service line replacement initiative in 2020, Bloomfield has made “significant progress” in improving the safety of its drinking water system, officials said last week.

“To date, more than 3,400 service lines have been inspected and over 1,300 lead or galvanized lines have been fully replaced,” a municipal advisory stated.

“The township continues to seek additional funding and remains dedicated to expanding this important work until all lead service lines are removed,” officials added.

“This recognition validates our team’s long-term strategy and community-first approach,” township engineer Paul Lasek said.

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

Bloomfield has received federal funding to help it with pipe replacement, including an infusion of federal funds from the 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

EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Township of Bloomfield also announced that its Lead Service Line Replacement Phases Project has been selected for the “Excellence in Community Engagement” award as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2025 AQUARIUS Recognition Program.

The specific project recognized by the EPA included the inventory of roughly 1,600 service lines. Of those, 798 were found to be lead or galvanized and were fully replaced with “safe, modern materials,” town officials said.

The effort was made possible through continued support from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank) through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): a federal-state partnership designed to protect public health by investing in drinking water infrastructure.

“Replacing lead service lines isn’t just about meeting mandates – it’s about protecting the health of our residents and building trust through transparency and outreach,” Mayor Jenny Mundell said.

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