PVWC Completes Lead Service Line Replacements, nearly 5,000 Removed

(Totowa, N.J. – May 29, 2026) – Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) marked the completion of its Lead Service Line Replacement Program, resulting in the removal and replacement of nearly 5,000 lead service lines throughout its service area. The PVWC main system is now essentially lead-free from the street to the water meter.

 

As part of the program, PVWC replaced:

 

PVWC commemorated the successful completion of the program with a plaque ceremony yesterday, recognizing the collaborative efforts of PVWC staff, contractors, municipal partners, and community stakeholders who contributed to this major infrastructure and public health milestone.

 

“Lead is not good in any amount for anyone, in particular children who are in developmental stages and pregnant women… removing it from our system is a paramount priority,” said PVWC Executive Director Jim Mueller.

 

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh praised the regional impact of the initiative, stating, “We talk about leadership and legacy — to be a part of this movement, this initiative, which essentially is humanitarian because we have all heard about the horrors of Flint, Michigan. We never want that to revisit anywhere, especially here in Passaic County. People may not realize the magnitude of the action that was taken, but in the end, we can say that we prevented negative headlines by removing these lead lines.”

 

PVWC Board President Deborah Rizzi thanked everyone involved in the effort and reflected on the long-term importance of the work. “To everybody who has been involved in this in any way, shape or form, and the people who are not in the room, we owe them a debt of thanks,” she said. President Rizzi also spoke about her previous experience working at a children’s hospital treating children with lead poisoning and noted that the impacts of lead exposure can be lifelong.

 

PVWC awarded a construction management contract to CDM Smith, with service line inspections beginning in Spring 2022. Pacific Construction was awarded the construction contract and began replacement work in July 2022.

 

Funding for the project was provided through the New Jersey Water Bank with a loan totaling $37.6 million. PVWC also received approximately $27 million in principal loan forgiveness through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank.

 

Additional speakers at the event included former NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.

 

For more information on PVWC’s ongoing capital improvement program, visit PVWC.com to download the 2025 Year-in-Review.