Buffalo Water has launched a new community-based initiative to encourage participation in the City of Buffalo’s ongoing lead service line replacement program.

The Community Care Worker Coalition (CCWC): Economic Empowerment in Lead Line Remediation – Community Action Plan (EELL-CAP), a collaboration between Buffalo Water and community-based and community health organizations, will showcase select organizations that engage the community and provide information, services and support in identifying and replacing lead service lines in residential areas.

“Finding and replacing our city’s lead service lines remains one of our top priorities,” said Mayor Byron Brown. “Every Buffalo resident should have access to clean, safe drinking water straight from the tap, and effective community outreach is important to the success of our efforts. I want to thank Open Buffalo and the Community Health Center of Buffalo for partnering with Buffalo Water on the new Community Care Worker Coalition to further engage city residents to better identify lead service lines in their homes and learn what resources and tools are available to replace them.”

Open Buffalo and the Community Health Center of Buffalo (CHCB) are two of the local organizations joining the initiative.

“Buffalo Water is committed to finding and removing lead service lines in the City of Buffalo,” said Oluwole “OJ” McFoy, Chair of the Buffalo Water Board. “A project of this magnitude requires public action and participation, which is why we have formed the new Community Care Worker Coalition. Open Buffalo and the Community Health Center of Buffalo are two trusted community organizations that will help city residents who still need to inform Buffalo Water if their home has a lead service line. They will also recruit volunteers for our faucet sampling program. The CCWC’s EELL-CAP initiative will strengthen our community through lead service remediation assistance, information, and water bill assistance.”

The program officially began Thursday in Hamlin Park, Cold Springs and surrounding neighborhoods.

To view the Service Line Inventory map and participate in the survey, city residents can getwaterwisebuffalo.org.