Newton Receives Grant to Replace Lead Water Lines

Funds will help low-income homes switch out dangerous lead pipes.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The City of Newton, Iowa has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund Board to replace lead water lines in low-income homes. The city will provide a local match of $13,900 to supplement its existing Very Low-Income Water Line Replacement Program.

Why it matters

Lead water lines pose serious health risks, especially for children, causing neurological damage, developmental issues, and learning problems. The grant will help address this public health concern in Newton's low-income communities.

The details

The grant funds will go towards replacing lead water lines in homes with incomes at or below 80% of the area's median income. An additional $12,000 will specifically benefit households at or below 30% of the median income to help meet regional targets.

  • The City of Newton applied for the grant in early 2026.
  • The $50,000 grant was awarded in February 2026.

The players

Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund

The organization that provided the $50,000 grant to the City of Newton to replace lead water lines in low-income homes.

City of Newton

The Iowa city that received the grant funds and will oversee the lead water line replacement program for low-income households.

Environmental Protection Agency

The federal agency that has warned about the serious health dangers of lead in drinking water, including neurological damage, developmental issues, and learning problems.

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What they’re saying

“The grant requires a local match of $13,900. Funds will go to water line replacement for households with incomes at or below 80% Area Median Income. To meet region-wide targets, $12,000 will be used to benefit households at or below 30% of the Area Median Income.”

— Lucas Young, Central Iowa Housing Trust Fund (kniakrls.com)

What’s next

The City of Newton will begin the lead water line replacement program in the coming months, prioritizing the most low-income households first.

The takeaway

This grant will help address a critical public health issue in Newton's low-income communities by replacing dangerous lead water pipes, which can cause serious neurological and developmental problems, especially in children.