Carpentersville honored for project to remove lead water lines

After removing all lead water services from the community, the village of Carpentersville has received three awards recognizing its commitment to ensuring safe water for the public.

For its Lead Service Line Replacement Program, the village received the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois Engineering Excellence Honor Award and the ACEC of Illinois Judge’s Choice Award in the Water Resources category. The village also received an ACEC National Recognition award, according to the Sugar Grove-based Engineering Enterprises, Inc.

“The village’s commitment was driven by its continued focus on maintaining its residents’ physical and financial well-being,” EEI officials said in a news release. “Through careful planning, public outreach, and financial stewardship, this project is a testament to how municipalities can tackle big challenges with creativity and care to build a safer, healthier future for their residents.”

Construction on the project began in October 2023 and involved replacing 400 lead water sources in the community. Lead in water sources has been shown to cause several health issues, including cognitive and learning disabilities, developmental problems, and kidney damage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

In June 2023, the village received $4 million from the Illinois EPA’s Public Water Supply Loan Program. The funding ensured the entire program came at zero cost to village residents.

The project, which involved minimally invasive horizontal directional drilling to replace the lead services, was completed ahead of schedule and below budget, officials said.