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Roselle residents urge village help for private lead service-line replacements
Summary
Two Roselle residents told the Village Board that private lead service-line replacements are a public-health and affordability problem; village officials said the municipality will replace public-owned lines but private in-home service lines remain the homeowner's responsibility and a limited need-based relief process and EPA waiver exist.
Two Roselle residents asked the Village Board on Feb. 24 to help households pay to replace private lead service lines, calling the costs a public-health and fairness issue.
David Yocum told the board he and neighbors only recently learned their service lines are lead and that many homeowners have not been contacted about replacement requirements. "I received a notice I had lehi pipe on October fourteenth of this fall," Yocum said, and he said only a fraction of the originally identified homes have been addressed.
Tom Swantek, who identified himself as a long-time Roselle resident, said he was worried about the health of family members and the expense of replacement. "I don't know if I can afford a $10,000 replacement," Swantek said, noting that many neighbors are retired or on fixed incomes.
A village official responded for the record that the village is replacing publicly owned lead service lines but is not covering private service lines on homeowners' property. The official said private service lines were installed by developers or homeowners when houses were built and that the village's capital improvements budget this year exceeds its general operating revenue, enabling larger infrastructure investments. The official also said the village has a need-based relief process for eligible homeowners during installation and that homeowners who decline replacement must sign an EPA waiver acknowledging they were informed and opted not to replace their private line.
The public comments opened during the meeting's public-comment period; the board did not take a formal vote on the matter during the Feb. 24 meeting.
Why it matters: work to replace service lines can temporarily increase lead levels in household plumbing and replacement costs can be significant for older households and those on fixed incomes, speakers said. Residents requested clearer notice and consideration of financial assistance or subsidy options as the village proceeds with public-side replacements.
