Columbus outlines lead service-line replacement work in Clintonville; Fairway Court mobilizing in May/June

Hannah Mullen, representing Columbus Water and Power, told residents the city is undertaking a program to replace all lead and galvanized steel water service lines in its distribution system. "This program is really about an update," she said, stressing, "This is not about any sort of water quality concern" and that the water remains safe.

Mullen said the program will replace lines from the main in the street all the way to the meter inside a house, which means crews may need to enter private property. She said the citys goal is to replace any exposed lead or galvanized service line during planned city construction to avoid digging the same hole twice.

Mullen gave two near-term examples for Clintonville: Fairway Court will have contractors on board in May or early June and, when replacements occur as part of planned city construction, homeowners receive the replacement at no cost but must sign a work agreement. She also listed a later project (DeSantis Drive, Zeller Drive, West Trayer Place and Aldrich Place/Road) where construction is not expected to start until winter 2027 and said homeowners can check their service-line type online or with staff at the open-house table.

During Q&A residents asked whether meter replacements theyve been notified about are linked to the lead program; staff said the enhanced meter project is separate. Mullen urged residents to sign work agreements when free replacements are available, to secure pets and to respond to outreach notices so block schedules are not delayed.

On coordination with other utilities, staff said the City runs plan review and permits so departments and utility partners (including gas and electric) are notified ahead of construction and will coordinate to avoid conflicting work. For residents concerned about in-home access, Mullen said the citys lead program is intended to reduce repeated excavation and that interior work will be scheduled and communicated in advance.

The presentation moved into an open-house format for residents to check specific addresses with engineering staff and the lead-service team.