Label
DPU03162021ENVIROMENTALJUSTICEGRANT
Environmental Services
Karen Granata (x3952)
Reviewed
Title
Waiving the competitive procurement requirements of TMC Chapter 187 and authorizing the Mayor to enter into agreements with Blue Conduit Services for the purpose of identifying lead lines and with Freshwater Future for related community education efforts; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The City of Toledo was awarded a Using Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Lead Exposure and Promote Environmental Justice Program grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The acceptance of grant funds and the authorization to expend those grants funds was approved by Ord. 479-20.
This ordinance requests authorization to enter into agreements with Blue Conduit Services for the purpose of identifying lead lines and with Freshwater Future for related community education efforts.
Blue Conduit Service, a company based in Ann Arbor, MI, is a leading expert in the use of machine learning to inventory and locate lead service lines. Blue Conduit pioneered the use of predictive modeling for lead service lines inventory in Flint, MI. The successful application of statistical methods to locate service lines will helped the city save millions of dollars in avoiding unnecessary excavations and allowed the city to target efforts at homes with the highest likelihood of having a lead service line. Their work has been published academic articles on the use of machine learning to locate lead service lines, consulted state environmental regulators on how to best use statistics to meet updated Lead and Copper rule requirements, and implemented these methods in more than 30 towns across two states. Blue Conduit has secured funding from The Rockefeller Foundation that allows them to bring this solution to Toledo at a substantially reduced cost.
Freshwater Future has been a catalyst for community action that strengthens policies designed to safeguard the waters of t...
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