By Jason Crane –
The city of Aurora government plans to establish a Private Service Line Replacement Program to help Aurora residents get the lead out of community water systems by prioritizing the replacement of private lead service lines (LSL)s.
At a special city of Aurora government Building Grounds and Infrastructure Committee meeting Monday, Ken Schroth, city of Aurora director of Public Works/City engineer, explained Senator Heather A. Steans introduced Illinois Senate Bill 3080 in February. The bill would require every community water system in Illinois to create a plan to remove all known LSLs, including public and private property. With the expectation that this bill would give the City the responsibility and the authority to replace LSLs on private property, the City has delayed some maintenance and capital improvement projects in areas with LSLs.
Alderman of the First Ward, Kristina “Tina” Bohman said, “this is another unfunded mandate.”
When a private water service line needs to be repaired or replaced, a portion of the LSL can raise the lead level at the tap for weeks or months. The potable water industry has begun campaigning to “get the lead out” of community water systems by prioritizing the replacement of private LSLs.
Congress banned installation of LSLs in 1986 and Schroth said approximately half of all 48,000 Aurora residences still utilize private LSLs installed before 1986.
Replacing a service line is the responsibility of the property owner, but it represents a significant unplanned expense for many property owners. To promote the removal of LSLs, the city government could pay for replacement of LSLs between the public water main and the limits of the right-of-way. The average cost would be approximately $4,500 per service line.
The city government recommends the property owner replace the portion of the LSL on private property, which would cost the property owner approximately $3,000 per service line. The city government could provide the property owner with three options: 1. Finance replacement of the LSL on private property on their own; 2. Finance replacement of the LSL on private property with a loan from the city government; or 3. Opt not to replace the portion of the LSL on private property. If the property owner selects Option 3, he or she should be required to sign a form acknowledging the health risks and the City’s notification not to drink or cook with the water unless it is filtered.