Greeley Water receives $21 million loan for lead water line replacement program – Greeley Tribune

Huge pipes take in the sewer water for cleaning while at the Greeley Wastewater Treatment & Reclamation Facility on Tuesday Oct. 24, 2023.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)

Greeley’s Water and Sewer Department received approval for a $21 million state revolving fund loan to locate and replace water service lines containing lead, eliminating the need for a $1.1% water rate increase to fund the project.

The Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority Board approved the loan — which includes $10 million in loan forgiveness — March 8, according to a city release.

“I’m proud the city has taken a proactive approach to finding and removing service lines that contain lead,” Greeley Engineer Keri Fishlock said. “This project will benefit generations to come, and this loan helps reduce the burden of funding it.”

This loan comes on the heels of a $250,000 grant the Colorado Water Quality Control Division awarded Greeley Water in November. That grant was also awarded to help the city identify and replace water service lines that contain lead.

Greeley’s Lead Protection Team hopes to conduct service lines in approximately 5,000 basements, complete pothole inspections at over 1,000 properties and continue service line replacements at more than 200 properties in 2024, according to the release.

For more information on what Greeley is doing to identify and replace lead service lines, go to greeleygov.com/leadprotection.