LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The City of Lima is preparing to begin the fourth phase of its lead service line replacement program after Lima City Council approved funding for the next stage of the project.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that municipalities replace lead service lines within 10 years. Lima launched its replacement program in 2024 and has already replaced more than 1,300 lead service lines.
City officials say they are ahead of schedule in their effort to replace approximately 5,000 designated lead service lines by 2037. Phases two and three are currently under construction, while work on phase four is scheduled to begin in March 2027.
"It'll be probably another five years. We have 10 years to do this. We're actually a little bit ahead of the curve on that. A lot of other cities just started this year and we've already, you know, in our fourth phase. We bid it out. We get a contractor then that's locked in and they do the work," said Mike Caprella, director of utilities for the City of Lima.
Caprella said the city will continue awarding contracts as each phase moves forward to keep the project on schedule and ensure all federally mandated lead service line replacements are completed on time.
