Sen. Gillibrand addresses Rochester on lead pipe removal

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was in Rochester on Friday afternoon to speak about federal funding to help replace thousands of lead pipes.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law after receiving bipartisan support in Congress, includes $2.6 billion in federal funding to improve water supply.

Gillibrand said the act could help to remove Rochester’s more than 20,000 lead pipes and upgrade the city’s aging water infrastructure.

"Rochester’s housing stock and infrastructure is very old which makes the city beautiful but it also naturally means that the community has a lead issue. There are about 23,000 lead service lines owned by the City Of Rochester that comprise about 40 percent of all city services," said Sen. Gillibrand.

Gillibrand addressed the matter at the lead pipe removal site at the intersection of Brooks Ave and Marsh Street. Lead causes severe developmental issues and is of extreme concern to pregnant women and young children.

The city’s website said that lead isn’t found in pipes delivering water supply. However, lead can be found in the service lines connecting homes to water mains.