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The city’s goal is to replace all leading lines by 2026.
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August 10, 2021 • 41 minutes ago • Read for 2 minutes • Join the conversation 
In this undated handout photo from the city of Saskatoon, a crew is working to replace a lead water supply line. Photo from City of Saskatoon /City of Saskatoon
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A city council committee agreed that the city of Saskatoon should share the cost of replacing lead pipes on the private side with homeowners.
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Co-payment programs have existed for years, but there is no program for the exclusive replacement of lead pipes on the private side. Homeowners had the option of not replacing their side of the pipes if the city replaced their side.
“That is not easy. There is no right answer. I think ideally we probably wouldn’t have had an option (exit) in the first place. And I think we all want the same results here, which is improved infrastructure, ”said Coun. Hilary Gough.
The Standing Political Committee on the Environment, Utilities and Business Services on Monday voted for the city to share the costs with homeowners.
Homeowners would pay up to $ 3,520 and Saskatoon Water would cover the remainder of the cost of replacing the private lead line lines.
Saskatoon has 256 residential properties with privately owned lead pipes, replacing the city owned side. Of these, 145 changed hands after 2010, meaning many owners did not have the option of replacing their side of the pipes under a cost-sharing program.
“At least 50 percent of those facing this situation were not the people who opted out or were unlikely to have had the opportunity to participate in the normal plan,” noted Gough.
The total cost of a private lead pipe replacement is estimated at $ 4,000 to $ 6,000, according to a report submitted to the committee. With the homeowner paying $ 3,520, Saskatoon Water would pay between $ 480 and $ 2,480, depending on the price.
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The estimated total cost for the city would be $ 122,880 to $ 634,880 for the 256 properties.
The city’s goal is to replace all leading lines by 2026.
The municipal council still has to approve the application for cost sharing with the house owners. The next meeting is on August 30th.
![In this undated handout photo from the city of Saskatoon, a crew is working to replace a lead water supply line.]()
Some homeowners might be hooked for a full lead line replacement
![This map shows where lead pipes are in the city as per the 2016 Saskatoon City inventory. (Saskatoon City)]()
Initiative aims to accelerate the replacement of lead pipes
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