Passaic Mayor Announces Free Lead Service Line Replacement Program - August 25, 2025
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Passaic Mayor Announces Free Lead Service Line Replacement Program - August 25, 2025
Mayor of Passaic delivered a public message on August 25, 2025, urging all residents to participate in the mandatory, free lead service line replacement program administered by the Passaic Valley Water Commission. The mayor emphasized the program's importance for public health and safety, noted that over 800 lines have already been replaced, and warned that non-participation could lead to enforcement actions and out-of-pocket costs up to $10,000.
Lead Service Line Replacement Program Announcement
- The program is mandatory and free for residents; otherwise, initiating the process could cost up to $10,000.
- Over 800 lines have been replaced citywide, with over 250 remaining to meet a 2025 deadline.
- The mayor acknowledged potential resident skepticism and cultural sensitivities, reassuring that workers are only interested in the lead line replacement, not other household matters.
- Residents are encouraged to verify worker identity by calling City Hall or the Passaic Valley Water Commission (973-340-4300) or visiting the PVWC website.
- The city prefers to avoid enforcement (fines or mandatory ground opening) but will resort to it if cooperation is not achieved.
- The mayor thanked residents who have already participated and urged others to cooperate to ensure the program's success.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes or decisions were made; the message was a public service announcement.
- Next steps: Residents are asked to schedule free replacements by contacting the water commission or opening their doors to authorized workers.
Meeting Transcript
As mayor of the city of Passaic, it's extremely important that everyone please listen to this message. The LED service line replacement program is a mandatory program that everyone needs to participate in. It is free. That's important. It is a free program. Otherwise, for a resident to initiate this process, it could cost up to 10,000. In the city of Passaic, we have been able to replace over 800 lines already, but we have over 250 to go with a deadline of 2025. Again, as mayor, I reiterate, it's extremely important, paramount for the safety and health of our community. We want to exhaust every means and resource available besides having to enforce an ordinance and perhaps penalize people. It's this important. This is a safety initiative through the Passaic Valley Water Commission. Look, to the families out there, I understand there may be some concern. Perhaps resistance when someone knocks on the door and says, We're here to offer you free service for your benefit. Immediately you think nothing's for free and there's something behind it. Maybe they want to find out if my basement has been refinished or perhaps they're concerned about other issues because of their status. We understand there are some cultural sensitivities and our demographics explain that. However, I want to assure everyone in the city. This is a remarkable program. I'm so grateful to the Passaic Valley Water Commission for their efforts, partnering with us for the collaboration that we are enjoying with our neighboring municipalities within Passaic County and around the state. Money was made available by our state legislators in order to ensure that no resident would have to pay for this service. But I must stress this. Yeah, and you brought up a point that it's mandatory, right? So when it comes to the ordinance that you guys really don't want to have to kind of like firmly put in place, um, just walk for kind of the precautions. It's people don't take this. Of course, as government, we have a responsibility in terms of the public health, safety, and quality of life issues. We try to communicate, educate, collaborate with the community. However, when we exhaust every possible means of getting the cooperation of the community, then of course we're left with no other option but enforcement. And that's going to be either fines or mandatory opening of the ground and properties. Look, I don't want it to get to that point. And I definitely don't want the residents to have to pay out of pocket. $10,000 in the state of New Jersey, that's a that's a lot of money anywhere. But I don't want anyone to have to pay. So let's work together, get it done for free. This is a good cause, an amazing agency that is responsible, a wonderful city that knows what we need to do. So let's do it. Open the doors. If you have any doubt, call the city of Passake. If you want to confirm, then go to the PVWC website, LEDRPlacement Line.com and you check that out, or you can call. I believe it's 973-340-430. I believe so. Look at that. I got that. Someone randomly walked by and said yes. Anyway, look, I just want to stress that. Make a phone call, call City Hall. If you're worried about the person knocking on the door, you have every right to say show me identification or call the city and say, hey, we just want to verify that they're actually representing our water utility company and that there's work being done. I assure you of this. The person knocking on your door on behalf of the Passaic Valley Water Commission is only interested in the lead line replacement program. They're not interested in what's in your house, what work you're doing. That's for another day.
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