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La Grange plans phased lead service-line replacements, seeks IEPA loan and engineering contract
Summary
Consultant Caitlin Wright told trustees the village estimates about 3,440 lead service lines (roughly 67% of 5,100 connections) and outlined federal and state funding options. The board authorized pursuing an IEPA 0% loan of up to $4 million and approved an engineering task order for a Phase 1 program to replace roughly 256 lines if funds are awarded.
La Grange trustees on Dec. 8 heard a detailed briefing on replacing lead water service lines and authorized steps to pursue state funding and engineering support for a phased program.
Caitlin Wright of Baxter & Woodman, the village’s consulting engineer, told the board the village currently “is assuming that they have 3,440 lead water service lines across the community out of the 5,100 service lines” — roughly 67 percent of connections — and said new federal rules will require much faster replacement rates. “Underneath that new federal law…the village is going to be mandated to start replacing at 10% per year starting in 2027,” Wright said.
Why it matters: the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and Illinois law require communities to develop inventories and replacement plans; the rules, funding timelines and scoring affect whether and when La Grange can move from inventory to construction. Wright added that full public-side replacement from main to meter commonly runs about $12,000–$15,000 per service line when done at scale, while private-side work is often $7,000–$9,000 and can reach $23,000–$25,000 for isolated jobs.
The village has already requested state revolving funds earlier this funding cycle and sought $3.9 million; Wright said the village scored 150 out of 405 points on the IEPA scoring matrix and was not funded in the initial allocation but could pursue bypass funds that become available January–June. She described IEPA loan terms for lead-line work as unusually favorable — 0% interest over 30 years with principal-forgiveness components available to disadvantaged communities — and said states split federal monies between loans (51%) and principal forgiveness (49%) according to each state’s administration.
Board action: trustees voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance authorizing the village to apply for up to $4,000,000 through the IEPA public water supply loan program to support engineering and construction for Phase 1 of the lead-service-line program. The board also approved Task Order No. 294 with Baxter & Woodman to prepare final plans and bid documents; staff said Phase 1 would replace approximately 256 lead service lines if funds are awarded.
What comes next: staff will submit required IEPA application materials and rely on the Baxter & Woodman task order to finalize plans and bid documents. If the village receives funding, the loan is structured as reimbursement (the contractor is paid and the village then seeks IEPA reimbursement), and Wright said communities can design cost-share arrangements for private-side work if they choose. The board discussed the timing and budgeting implications and noted that capital funds and future budget decisions will be required to provide any local match or to support a village-funded private-side incentive program.
