ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- St. Augustine is replacing more than 50 percent of the city's pipes and water mains.
The pipes and water mains were installed in the early 1900s. They're so old they're leaking dissolved rust into the drinking water.
The project is in phase two. Lincolnville is one of the areas getting renovated.
Marilyn Benitez has lived in Lincolnville for the past 15 years.
For years, she's had to buy her own water to avoid using the so-called "red water."
"It looks like you're having brown dark tea or brewed tea. It's really messy, really bad," said Benitez.
Like Benitez, many residents say this project is long over due.
The construction on Riberia Street is just months away from being finished.
But according to the Director of Public Works, Martha Graham, there is still more to be done.
"We anticipate having more phases in the future, this will not address all of our issues but we look at it as a long-term program," said Graham.
In the next 18 months, eight miles of pipes will be replaced. That project will cost the city $4.5 million.
According to Graham, her department is working hard to make the fixes without any tax hikes.
"We're working with what we have and leveraging money that we have through bond issues to effectively not raise our rates," said Graham.
The entire project is expected to continue for the next five to 10 years.
In the meantime, Benitez is just thankful she won't have to buy her own water anymore.
"It's great progress and I really appreciate them getting this done," said Benitez.
The next area set to be improved is the North City.
The Department of Public Works has posted improvement planes with a list of neighborhoods and streets that will be affected here.
