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The City of Selma is working to replace the lead pipes throughout the city after receiving $15 million through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This is part of the $43.9 million to ensure clean, safe drinking water for state residents.

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell joined EPA Region 4 administrator Jeaneanne Gettle, Mayor James Perkins Jr. and Meredith Hogg-Stone, president and owner of Hogg-Stone Associates (HSA) engineering firm in Selma, which received the engineering contract for the project.  

A new EPA rule was announced last week to eliminate all lead pipes in drinking water systems within the next 10 years. Funds were made possible through the bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Sewell was the only member of Alabama’s congressional delegation to vote in favor of the law.

The funds the city received were announced in 2022, but the projects are underway now.

“I’m glad that the Biden Harris administration invested in the city of Selma in July 2022,” Sewell said. “Those resources are being put to use today.”

Gettle said the new ruling made by EPA director Michael Regan will help safeguard the lives of residents here in Selma and around the nation. The press conference was held on Selma Avenue where workers are already replacing lead pipes.

“What you see behind me is what happens when you identify and replace lead pipes,” Gettle said. “This lead and copper rule is a crucial step forward in protecting all of our communities.”

Hogg-Stone said the work in downtown is just the first phase of the project. There will be two more phases that will go into the residential areas next and then make repairs on the Broad Street and Dallas Avenue areas.

“We have a repaving project that we are trying to get done,” Hogg-Stone said of the Cityscapes Grant the city received last week. “Our goal is to complete this phase as soon as possible so that the project can be completed in time for the Bridge Jubilee Crossing in March. We need to finish this project first before the repaving can be completed.”

The other two phases are in the planning phase. The $15 million the city received is part of $40 million that was given to the three county water services for these repairs.