Joliet, Illinois is starting another phase of its program to replace lead service lines.
Approximately 800 lead service lines will have been replaced by sometime next year, according to Utilities Director Allison Swisher, reported the Herald News.
Joliet is in the process of identifying lead service lines, which bring water from the city main to the house. The city currently has an interactive map on its website to help residents determine if their homes may have lead service lines.
The city has not allowed lead to be used in service lines for more than 80 years, but it is still found in older homes.
The Illinois EPA is providing approximately $4 million to fund the next phase of the lead-line replacement program.
There will be a projected 600 lead service lines that will be replaced in Phase Two of the program, added Swisher. The total will be close to 800. Phase Two will focus on homes on the near East and West sides of Joliet.
In total, the lead line replacement project will have four phases.
Joliet provides free inspections to determine if service lines are made of lead and provides free water samples.
A cost-sharing program is in place for service line replacements, reported the city. The city is paying for replacement of the public section of line and property owners are paying for the private section running from the sidewalk to the house.
In addition to the cost-sharing program, the city is also utilizing the IEPA Low Interest Loan Program with principal forgiveness in order to complete projects in parts of the city where there are concentrated locations of known lead service lines.
“The inventory, along with a potholing contract initiated in 2020, will help pinpoint areas to be added in future phases,” said the Joliet website. “The current project plan will be executed in the four phases.”