Volunteers go door-to-door signing Newark residents up for lead line replacement

Newark officials began its door-to-door efforts to sign up city residents for lead water service line replacements.

News 12 Staff

Sep 10, 2019, 2:13 AM

Updated 2,015 days ago

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Newark officials began its door-to-door efforts to sign up city residents for lead water service line replacements.
Volunteers went out Monday to deliver cases of water to city residents, as well as provide them with a form to fill out so that they can get their lead pipes replaced. The volunteers will visit all 18,000 homes identified as having lead service lines.
Wearing "Newark Water Team" t-shirts, volunteers were in Newark’s North Ward on Monday night.
Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Quiles says that the city has $120 million for the effort. She says that the project will not cost residents any money.
FULL COVERAGE: Newark Water Crisis
“The city's going to pay for it, so that's why we're sharing the great news by going door-to-door delivering water and getting the paperwork filled out,” Quiles says.
Quiles visited resident Benny Malave's home. He says he appreciates the effort.
"The fact that they're taking the initiative to come out, and go door-to-door, shows that someone, somewhere, does care,” Malave says.
Quiles says if there's no answer at the door, they will leave information with their phone numbers. When the property owners call, the volunteers will come back and assist in filling out the application.
Volunteers will be canvassing on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on weekdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. To date, the city has replaced more than 800 lead service lines and Newark officials say the city has given out over 67,000 cases of water - including about 3,000 that went to Belleville and Hillside.