The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) has appointed engineering firm CDM Smith to manage its Lead Line Replacement Program, a project estimated at $1 billion that aims to remove between 50,000 and 80,000 lead service lines across the city by the end of 2037.
The deadline reflects requirements set by the US Environmental Protection Agency under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which mandates the full replacement of lead service lines nationwide.
Under the contract, CDM Smith will oversee the programme end-to-end, taking responsibility for community outreach and education, contractor procurement, inventory management of lead lines, the development of data systems, construction management and workforce development. The firm has said its team will draw on prior experience working on New Orleans's public right-of-way and on corridor-scale projects, and will involve what it described as extensive participation from local disadvantaged business enterprises.
The deadline reflects requirements set by the US Environmental Protection Agency under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which mandates the full replacement of lead service lines nationwide
The programme will also make use of leadCAST Predict, a machine-learning GIS tool developed by Trinnex, to assist with the city's inventory of pipes. The tool combines physical inspections with predictive modelling, an approach intended to reduce the number of service lines whose composition remains unknown ahead of the LCRI compliance deadline.
CDM Smith says it has completed more than 80,000 lead service line replacements to date across the United States, including work for utilities in Chicago, Milwaukee and Washington DC.
Sandy Kutzing, the firm's lead and copper strategy leader, framed the work as a matter of public health rather than infrastructure alone. "This is more than an infrastructure initiative—it is a public health priority," she said. "We are proud to partner with SWBNO to accelerate removal of lead services lines to support families, schools and businesses. Our focus is simple: deliver results for the people of New Orleans—quickly, safely and in full compliance with federal and state requirements. Together with SWBNO, we are helping build a healthier future for every resident of New Orleans."
Lead service lines, which carry drinking water from street mains into homes and buildings, can leach lead into tap water, particularly when the pipes corrode. The EPA's revised rule, finalised under the LCRI, requires water utilities across the country to identify and replace such lines within a decade of the regulation taking effect.
