The City of Hoboken will begin its Lead Service Line Replacement Program on Monday, Aug. 3, with testing for water service line material type and associated tree pruning on Adams Street between Newark and Eighth Streets.
Work will take place Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Temporary no-parking restrictions will be in effect during work hours to maintain a lane of vehicular traffic at all times. Please obey all posted temporary no-parking signs.
This subsurface testing phase of the project is anticipated to last approximately three weeks and will be followed by the replacement of any identified lead service lines and final site restoration, which is anticipated to be done by the end of the year.
About the Hoboken Lead Service Line Replacement Program
The Lead Service Line Replacement Program is part of the City's ongoing efforts to improve drinking water quality, upgrade the drinking water system, and comply with New Jersey's Lead Service Line Replacement Law.
While lead is not present in the water leaving the water treatment plant, and there are no lead water mains in Hoboken, properties built before 1986 may have service lines made of materials that contain lead. A water service line is a small pipe that carries water from the City's water mains into homes and other buildings. In September of last year, the Hoboken City Council passed an ordinance requiring the replacement of any lead service lines by 2031 in order to comply with New Jersey state law.
The City’s water system is treated and regularly tested under standards set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Water Quality Parameters to prevent lead and copper from leaching into the drinking water. Prolonged lead exposure can cause health problems particularly in pregnant women, young children, and elderly adults.
During the test pitting phase of this project, crews will work to identify the material of the service line at each property. Test pits are small holes that can help determine whether the service line is made of, or contains, lead. Prior to test pitting, crews may have to prune trees in the area, to better access the service line.
If test pitting reveals lead in the service line, the property owner(s) will receive an official letter and Right of Entry Form authorizing City contractors to replace lead water service lines. Replacements made through this program will be provided at no cost to the property owner.
Property owners who decline the City's lead water service replacement will be required to replace the line at their own expense within 90 days of receiving the Right of Entry letter.
Once work is completed on Adams Street, additional City blocks will be prioritized based on a variety of factors including scheduled paving work, water main replacement work, and other factors. As this project moves forward, the City will be conducting additional test pits.
Under the City of Hoboken’s mandatory Lead Service Line Replacement Program, the City’s contractor will replace identified lead service lines at no cost to property owners when the City is conducting work on that block. As per the Hoboken City Code, the property owner is responsible for the maintenance of their water service line from the water main in the street to the water meter. If property owners wish to replace their service line ahead of the City’s program, they can contact a licensed plumber and do this immediately at their own cost.
To learn more about Hoboken's Lead Service Line Replacement Program, go to www.hobokennj.gov/lslr-program.
Click here for Veolia’s drinking water consumer confidence report: https://mywater.veolia.us/weir-river-water-system/water-in-my-area/water-quality-reports
Anyone with questions or concerns about this project can reach out to [email protected] or call 732-327-2911.
