Libertyville raises maximum reimbursement to remove lead water service to $6,000
Libertyville has raised the amount it will reimburse property owners to replace lead water pipes with copper to encourage more voluntary participation before a mandated program goes into effect.
Village officials on Tuesday approved a change to an existing policy upping the maximum reimbursement to replace a water service in its entirety from $3,500 to $6,000.
According to the village, new state and federal legislation are requiring municipalities and water distribution owners to take greater responsibility in the removal and replacement of lead water services.
Water service is composed of two parts. The public or village-maintained portion is from the water main in the street to what is known as a "buffalo box" in the parkway grass. The part from that point to the home is owned and maintained by the property owner.
Legislation ultimately will require an annual program to replace the remaining lead services in their entirety starting in 2027.
An increase in the reimbursement was recommended by the village staff to encourage more voluntary lead service replacements in advance of the change. The reimbursement is intended to be about half the total cost.
Libertyville adopted criteria for a residential lead replacement incentive program in 2016 and amended it twice, most recently to require the contractor for the village's annual water main replacement program to provide a cost proposal to replace the private portion of the service.
The village portion of the water service is replaced as part of the program at no cost to the property owner. But the property owner is responsible if the owner wants the entire service replaced but doesn't want to wait for the annual program.
While the maximum reimbursement for replacing the lead water service in its entirety increased to up to $6,000, the maximum reimbursement for the private portion remains at $2,500. The village budgets $25,000 per year for the program.
Costs for the full replacement range from $10,000 to $12,000, while replacement for the private portion range from about $5,200 to $6,000, according to Paul Kendzior, public works director.
Lead is a toxic metal that can accumulate in the body over time. The U.S. EPA has set the maximum contaminant level goal for lead in drinking water at zero because it can be harmful even at low exposure levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"We are anticipating we are going to have about 750 lead services either in their entirety or at least on the private portion," Kendzior told the village board. An inventory is underway and expected to be complete by mid-April, he added.
Work is underway on Bartlett Terrace to replace the public portion of 38 water service lines. Of the 38 private segments, four contain lead, Kendzior said.