Madison – Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) announced that on Sept. 18 he will be present at a ceremony in which the first state resident to benefit from Act 137 begins removal of lead pipes. This law, authored by Rep. Thiesfeldt and Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay), provides a mechanism for communities to provide financial assistance programs to replace customer-owned lead water service lines (laterals).

Homeowners are responsible for the laterals from their homes to the property line, while the city maintains the pipes from the property line to the water main. On Sept. 18, a local plumbing contractor is scheduled to replace a leaking lead pipe entering a home occupied by a couple and a young child. For this special occasion, the Kenosha Water Utility will host a press conference beginning at 11 a.m. outside the home, 4703 19th Ave. To commemorate this event, Representative Thiesfeldt will assist in pulling the first lead pipe out from the ground.

Rep. Thiesfeldt stated, “I’m extremely grateful to see positive action as a part of this new law. Thanks to the City of Kenosha for the invitation to attend and literally help ‘pull the lead out’! Hopefully this will be one of many more to come. I encourage all Wisconsin communities with large numbers of lead laterals to establish similar programs to assist their residents in removing these hazardous pipes.”

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