Lockport officials outline plan to replace lead service lines, say homeowners responsible for interior work

Lockport city staff told the council that state-mandated sampling has identified lead in a small number of homes and outlined a multi-year plan to replace lead service lines.

Brian Lovering and utilities staff reported that the Illinois EPA required expanded sampling this year. "We did 30 last year. We—e up to 60 this year by the IEPA requirement," a utilities representative said, adding that four household samples showed lead presence. The staff member said the city has identified about 45 lead service lines among roughly 11,000 households in the city.

The utilities staff described the replacement program as focused on the public portion of service lines "from the water main all the way into the resident's house to the meter," with a target replacement rate of roughly 15 services per year. "So we're hoping about 3 to 5 years we should be done with those," the staff member said. The speaker noted that galvanized interior plumbing may remain in some homes and that replacing plumbing inside the house is a homeowner expense; the city is required by the IEPA to notify residents and provide educational flyers quarterly.

Staff said the city publishes a water service map on its website showing service-material status (green for copper, red for lead, yellow for galvanized) so residents can check whether their property is identified. The city also lists local testing vendors on the flyer for homeowners who want additional in-home testing.

Councilors and residents questioned how notices are delivered (paper bills, email, text) and whether those on paperless billing receive required mailings. Staff said the IEPA flyer will be mailed quarterly to comply with notification rules.