Lead service line replacement costs and available funding for Illinois municipalities

Illinois has more lead service lines than any other state in the nation, with a number the National Resources Defense Council estimates to be anywhere from 700,000 to 1.4 million. Although the state banned lead service line installation in 1986, antecedent lines were not removed. 

Because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determines lead service lines as the largest source of lead contaminants in drinking water, the Illinois legislature passed the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (LSLRNA) in June 2021 to protect millions of Illinois residents. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the Act mandates the removal of all lead service lines statewide. 

This landmark legislation represents the first step toward a complete overhaul of the state's outdated drinking water infrastructure. The LSLRNA's primary objectives include identifying lead service line owners and operators – including municipal water systems – to schedule full replacements in communities across Illinois.  

This blog post discusses lead service line replacement costs, federal funding available for Illinois communities and why you need a trusted team of water engineers to replace lead service lines in your community.  

Lead service line replacement costs 

The LSLRNA (Public Act 102-0613) requires comprehensive service line removal and prohibits partial lead service line replacements, except in certain instances. In partial replacements, only the smaller, damaged portions of a larger service line system are repaired and replaced. 

Digging and cutting lead pipes for a partial service line replacement releases lead particulates and heightens the amount of lead in a building's water supply over extended periods. Such partial replacements also increase corrosion or create galvanic corrosion that raises lead levels even further. 

Despite the significant long-term benefits of lead service line replacements, a full replacement project can be expensive. Several factors can influence costs, including:

• Location of the service line. Service line replacements in downtown areas require significant construction. Replacing the pavement for such construction increases costs, depending on how much must be restored.
  
  

• Length of the service line. The length of the service line determines the cost of piping, and other construction materials for a full replacement project.
  
  

• Water utility ownership. Homeowners and utility companies may share service line ownership. In most communities, the utility's ownership ends at the property line and the property owner owns the rest of the service line with the exception of the meter within the unit. Replacement becomes a more cooperative and extensive effort when utilities or municipalities must gain access to private property and construct a service line into a finished area within the unit. The LSLRNA requires municipalities replace all lead service lines, including those portions on private property.
  
  
• Installation techniques. Depending on local factors, lead service lines can be replaced using techniques, including open trench, new bored route and existing routes (pipe pulling, pipe spitting). 

Federal funding for lead service line replacements 

The U.S. EPA estimates a full replacement of lead service lines at an average cost of $4,700, ranging from $1,200 to $12,300 per replaced service line. Certain site-specific variables could swell those costs to anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 per lead service line. 

To carry out full replacements across Illinois, the state is set to receive $565 million in federal funding allocated for these projects. Monies available for lead service line replacements include:

1. State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. Federal funding for Illinois lead service line replacement is routed through the state EPA's Public Water Supply loan program. For the Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) Grant Program, the Illinois EPA has $2 million available through the Public Water Supply Loan Program Loan Support funds to help with inventory efforts that municipalities are required to complete. Nearly $108 million is available for the construction of lead service line replacements.
   
   
2. Water utility dollars: Basic water bills can be used to fund the costs of developing an inventory for lead service lines, designing a replacement initiative and replacing lead service lines. Temporary construction easements are typically required to complete the service line replacements on private property limits to prevent issues with using public funds on private property.

Under the LSLRNA, municipalities are financially responsible for the entire cost of lead service line replacements when using federal or state funds to complete the work. 

Lead service line replacement is an expensive municipal project and requires partnering with experienced, organized water engineers to design effective and affordable replacement plans.

Partnering with Fehr Graham for lead service line replacements 

At Fehr Graham, we are committed to providing safe and reliable drinking water for communities across Illinois. Our team has replaced more than 1,000 lead service lines and has helped secure millions of dollars for Illinois communities. Whether replacing lead service lines in the Cities like Rockford, Freeport and Sycamore or in small towns like the Village of Forreston, our team is always available to help municipal leaders navigate every step. From securing overall project plan approval and guiding loan or grant applications to overseeing construction, we are dedicated to upgrading aging water infrastructure to ensure safe water access for every member of your community.