To comply with a federal government mandate, Niles village officials said the north suburb will be doing a pilot program to replace lead service lines.
It is expected that about 300 homes will be part of the program – at no cost to the owners.
The mandate, which has broad impact nationwide, calls for the replacement by 2037 “but has not received any funding from the federal government,” Niles officials stated in a release announcing the pilot program.
Officials state that Niles is leveraging a no-interest loan of about $4-million to do the pilot program. It gives the village and residents a “head start” on meeting the federal requirements.
“This pilot project is a proactive step to help our community address the federal mandate by taking advantage of strategic funding. We encourage eligible homeowners to participate and take advantage of this no-cost opportunity,” mayor George Alpogianis stated in the release.
He said his hope is for “families here in Niles to know that we are fully committed to securing state and federal funds to ease the burden on our residents and businesses.
Alpogianis said he has been working with the village’s federal lobbyists, along with federal and state leaders, to push for more funding for the lead pipe replacement program.
The village started notifying some homeowners weeks ago if they lived in the area designated for the pilot program. To participate, the selected homeowners had to submit a form earlier this month.
Officials stated in the release that the 315 homes selected for the pilot program were chosen using Illinois Environmental Protection Agency criteria.
Replacing each service line is estimated to take about eight hours.
“According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, lead can get into the drinking water when the service line – the pipe that carries water from the water main into the home – is made of lead. The pilot program sets the groundwork for a larger long-term effort to meet federal requirements and protect public health. The village is committed to securing any additional state or federal funds for the ongoing, long-term Lead Service Line Replacement Program once they become available,” Niles officials stated in the release.
