Lead Awareness

Using a Congressional Direct Spending Grant, the Youngstown Water Department was able to purchase their first Vac Truck.

The Vac Truck, a Daylighter by Aquatech™ potholing hydro excavator from HI-VAC Corporation, enables the identification of a water service line material type, with less disturbance to the property.

Rather than the traditional mechanical excavation at the service line curb box, the Vac Truck uses water pressure to "pot hole" the curb box area, requiring less restoration work to the property, afterward, thus minimizing cost and disruption.

Utilizing the Congressional Direct Spending Grant of $1,200,000 the City of Youngstown received, Youngstown Water Department construction crews have been busy replacing lead and galvanized water service lines, throughout the City. It’s hard work, but our crews are doing a great job for our customers.

The Buckeye Platt - Cottage Grove service line replacement project is expected to start in early September 2025, replacing 800 lead service lines and adding an estimated 13.500 feet of new water main.

The Youngstown Water Department is in the process of wrapping up our Mahoning Avenue project, with the final street having their lead service lines replaced. With the completion of this project, we will have replaced 1000 feet of water main on Mahoning Avenue and over 320 homes will have a lead-free water service line.

We are in the planning stages for our next lead service line replacement project, called Buckeye Platt. More details to come.

Youngstown Water's Lead Awareness team joined other City departments and vendors to make trick-or-treat safe and memorable at the 2024 Trails-of-Treats event in Wick Park. This was their second time participating in the annual event. The Lead Awareness team had fun giving candy and treats to the kids, while also offering important information about lead in water to the adults.

As part of its Lead in Water Mitigation community-engagement efforts, Youngstown Water participated in the recent Community-Wide Block Party, held at the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown. Included at their information table were Lead Water Service Line Survey Forms, Lead Awareness & Payment Options pamphlets, physical examples of service line types, and color-changing kids' water cups.