Albany Launches $12.9 Million Project To Replace Thousands Of Lead Water Pipes

Construction crews in Albany, New York, have started a vital project to replace nearly 2,500 lead service lines across the city’s 15 wards. Announced by Governor Kathy Hochul on May 13, 2025, this $12.9 million effort aims to provide clean, safe drinking water while tackling health risks and inequities. The work signals a commitment to ensuring every resident can trust the water flowing from their taps.

This initiative marks the first project under New York’s $100 million Lead Infrastructure Forgiveness and Transformation Grants program. With a $9 million federal grant and a $3.9 million state grant, Albany can replace lead pipes at no cost to homeowners or renters. The funding strategy reflects a belief that access to safe water is essential, and communities should not face financial strain to achieve it.

Lead contamination remains a serious issue in older cities like Albany, where water mains installed before 1975 often include lead pipes. Exposure to lead, even in small amounts, can impair children’s development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral challenges. Adults face risks like high blood pressure and kidney issues. By targeting aging infrastructure, Albany’s project seeks to protect residents and build a healthier future.

Lead pipes, common in homes built before the 1986 plumbing ban, pose a significant threat when corrosion releases lead into drinking water. Highly acidic or low-mineral water accelerates this process, endangering households. For infants, particularly those fed formula, water can account for up to 60 percent of lead exposure, making replacement projects like Albany’s urgent.

The Environmental Protection Agency notes that lead service lines contribute 20 to 60 percent of total lead exposure nationwide. The 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, enacted under the Biden-Harris Administration, require all lead pipes to be replaced within 10 years, supported by $15 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Albany’s efforts align with this mandate while addressing local challenges, particularly in underserved areas.

In Albany, about 40 percent of homes have lead service lines, with historically disadvantaged neighborhoods at higher risk. National data, such as studies from Chicago, reveal that Black and Hispanic communities are up to 11 percent more likely to face lead contamination. Albany’s comprehensive approach, spanning every ward, aims to correct these disparities and ensure equitable access to safe water.

A key strength of Albany’s project is its emphasis on affordability. State and federal grants cover the full cost of lead pipe replacements, preventing utility rate increases that could burden residents. Mayor Kathy Sheehan notes that the city has invested over $150 million in water infrastructure over the past 12 years. This funding model helps residents avoid the financial impact of essential upgrades.

Across the U.S., water utilities face a $110 billion funding shortfall in 2024, expected to grow to $744 billion over 20 years. Only one in five utilities fully cover their costs, often leading to deferred maintenance or higher rates. Albany’s grant-based approach offers a potential solution, demonstrating how targeted funding can safeguard health and household budgets.

Debates over funding persist. Some policymakers favor private partnerships or state-led financing to limit federal roles, valuing local efficiency. Others advocate for strong federal investment, citing widespread public support—over 80 percent of voters back increased water infrastructure spending. Albany’s project bridges these views, using combined resources to prioritize results over competing priorities.

Albany’s work is part of a $340 million New York initiative to eliminate lead pipes, blending $100 million in state grants with federal funds. Since 2017, the state has committed $6 billion to water infrastructure, from sewage systems to lead line replacements. This effort aims to meet federal 2037 deadlines while addressing local priorities, setting a standard for proactive investment.

History offers context for this approach. In the 1970s, Clean Water Act grants funded most sewage plant construction, but later shifts to loans increased local burdens. Today’s mix of grants and loans balances fiscal caution with urgent health needs, enabling communities like Albany to act quickly without overwhelming debt.

Albany’s project provides a model for other cities, showing how state, federal, and local collaboration can yield safer water and healthier communities. The Albany Water Department, having replaced over 1,700 lead lines since 2019, aims to eliminate all lead service lines by 2034. This long-term vision highlights the value of sustained effort and clear goals.

Challenges lie ahead, including the need to identify every lead pipe and secure homeowner cooperation for private line replacements. Cities like Newark and Chicago have developed efficient strategies, offering ideas Albany could adopt. Despite these hurdles, the goal—clean water for every resident—remains a powerful motivator.

For Albany’s residents, this project represents more than infrastructure upgrades. It builds trust in the water they drink, promotes fairness across neighborhoods, and shows what’s possible when health and equity guide decisions. As Albany advances toward a lead-free future, it inspires other communities to pursue clean, safe water for all.