Aurora council approves water and sewer rate changes tied to lead-line replacement and infrastructure needs

Aurora City Council approved an ordinance (250488) amending municipal water and sewer rates for the annual periods beginning July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026 to fund accelerating water-system work, including lead service line replacement.

Public commenters raised longstanding concerns about unaccounted-for water and transparency; Ray Hall specifically urged restoration of past water audit reporting and questioned the magnitude of unaccounted-for water. In council discussion, Alderman Bugg noted the senior-exemption population (about 4,000 households) and urged the council to seek ways to avoid unduly burdening seniors on fixed incomes. Public Works Director Jason Bauer explained replacement pacing and funding: the city currently replaces roughly 3–5 hundred lead lines per year (ramping toward ~500), but federal mandates could require work at a roughly 10% annual replacement rate in 2027 if additional funding is not available; at current pace the full program would take multiple decades.

Bauer described system improvements to reduce water loss (meter monitoring, targeted main replacements, surveying for hidden leaks) and said that the city is approaching replacement targets previously aided by federal/state funding streams (state revolving loan fund/IEPA). Council members asked whether state or federal funding would scale with increased mandates; staff said additional appropriations have been requested in some cases but not guaranteed.

After deliberation the council approved the ordinance on roll call (11 yes, 1 no). Councilmembers asked staff to continue seeking grant and federal support, evaluate senior-impact mitigation options, and return with further details when the second-year rate increases approach.

Next step: Public Works will continue lead-line replacement planning, pursue funding, and provide updates to council on timelines and mitigation options for vulnerable residents.