Loan will let Naperville remove the last of its lead water lines by 2027
A $3.5 million loan from the state will allow Naperville to remove its last lead service lines by 2027, two years ahead of schedule.
If successful, Naperville will be among the first communities in Illinois to meet state and federal mandates governing the removal of these pipes, according to the city’s water and wastewater director.
“We were very excited,” manager Darrell Blenniss said of the loan. “We’re ready to go. We’ve completed our inventory. We know where all these lines are and we’re ready to move.”
Last October, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that all lead water pipes entering residential properties must be replaced by 2037 in drinking water systems. These pipes can potentially release harmful particles into the water used for drinking and cooking.
Prior to the federal mandate, Illinois adopted its own regulations in 2021 for the removal of lead service lines, with deadlines dictated by the number of lines to be removed in a community. For municipalities with fewer than 1,200 lead lines, including Naperville, the deadline was 2042.
Other northern Illinois municipalities successfully removed all known lead service lines well ahead of state and federal mandates, including the far northwest suburbs of Algonquin and Huntley.
Before obtaining the loan, the city was on track to remove all of its lead water pipes by 2029. Less than 1 percent of Naperville’s water pipes are known to be lead. Based on recent estimates, Blenniss said removing the remaining lines would cost the city just under $3.5 million.
As part of its replacement program, the city has committed to removing lead pipes that carry water from the city-owned water main to a connection at the water meter entering a home. Homeowners do not have to pay for the work, but have the option of hiring someone to do it before the city schedule and then getting a rebate from the city for the cost.
The 30-year loan to cover the cost of the work is being provided through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Public Water Loan Program, which offers low-interest loans and other assistance for drinking water projects, according to their website.
Naperville initially submitted an application for the loan program in 2023, but ultimately chose to pass it on after being approved because the loan came with an interest fee, Blennis said.
“We knew they were looking to offer incentives in the future for lead service lines, so we agreed in 2023,” he said. “We resubmitted our application and it was accepted and now we are getting a loan without any interest.”
Property owners must sign an access agreement with the City so that contractors can go to their property to carry out replacement work. So far, about 85 percent of landowners whose lines are affected have signed agreements, said Blenniss, who is confident the remaining contracts will be approved.
If a property owner denies access or fails to respond, the city will replace as many as possible on public property and notify the state that the main line remains because it was unable to obtain an access agreement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
cstein@chicagotribune.com
