Lead water line replacement is ramping up in Peoria. Here's what to know
Illinois American Water, the water company that services most of the Peoria area, is in the midst of a major undertaking to replace lead water service lines in Peoria as mandated by state and federal laws.
On Tuesday, Illinois American Water updated the Peoria City Council on where it stands in that process and is asking Peorians to help its census by self-reporting lead water pipes in their homes.
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What is the timeline for lead water line replacement?
By April 2024, Illinois American Water must have an inventory submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency of where lead water lines still exist in Peoria, the company told the council.
By April 2027, Illinois American must have a final plan in place to the EPA on how it intends to replace all the identified lead water service lines in Peoria.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law in 2021 the Lead Service Line Replacement Notification Act, which mandated full lead service lines be replaced.
Illinois American said it began replacing lead service lines in Peoria around 2012 as part of replacing larger water mains. In 2018, it began replacing standalone lead water service lines more frequently.
Last year, Illinois American told the council it replaced 350 lead service lines in Peoria and anticipates it will replace another 350 this year. Yet, as the process of replacing lead service lines ramps up in coming years thanks to new laws, the company said it expects that number to triple.
A majority of the replacements pipes are plastic, Illinois American Water said. When a pipe is close to a sewer, copper is used.
How to know if your water service line needs to be replaced
Lead is considered a neurotoxin and is dangerous to have in your water supply. The federal government recognizes no safe level of lead in drinking water yet does have legal limits for it.
Lead water service lines were banned nationwide in 1986. So, if your home or business was built after that, you can safely assume you do not have lead pipes.
A map of where Illinois American Water has identified lead water service lines can be found at its website.
However, homes or buildings built before 1986 are encouraged to check to see if they have lead service lines. Illinois American Water asked Tuesday night for council to help get the word out around Peoria for customers to begin self-reporting if they have lead service lines so they can be included in the inventory and replaced.
In a 2020 report, Illinois American Water counted 10,576 lead service lines in Peoria. A majority of those are in Peoria's older neighborhoods. Illinois American Water has roughly 64,000 retail connections in the Peoria area.
Illinois American Water said that lead was mostly used in the pipes of homes built between 1920 and 1940, but in the Peoria-area homes built as late as the 1960s have been identified as having lead pipes.
If you are unsure if your home as lead pipes, you can test them yourself by following the guide available on the Illinois American Water website.
If you believe you have lead water pipes in your home, contact Illinois American Water. In November, all Illinois American Water customers will receive an insert with their bill further explaining self-reporting and lead water pipe education.
Only property owners can sign off on lead water pipe replacement. Anyone can refuse lead water pipe replacement if they choose.
The cost of replacing a lead water service line depends on how difficult it is to reach the line, Illinois American Water told the council, adding a complete line replacement costs between $12,000 to $18,000.
"When Illinois American Water does the replacement, the replacement as well as the restoration of the customers' yard, the costs are covered by Illinois American Water. We have not charged a customer for a replacement," a representative from Illinois American Water told the council.
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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois American Water discusses plan to replace lead water lines
