According to ABC 7 Chicago – Applications are now open for two programs to assist Chicago homeowners who wish to replace their lead service lines.

The City of Chicago says it has the most lead service lines in the nation. Now, a new initiative to replace them is underway to avoid the threat of lead in your water. The plumbers and professionals @ Morning Noon Night Plumbing & Sewer Service can help! CALL TODAY!

The Homeowner-Initiated Program waives up to $3,100 in permit fees for residents who wish to replace their service lines, city officials said. Those interested must be planning the line replacement independent of a home renovation. You can read more HERE! The program was designed to help everyone who is interested have the chance to replace their main water line.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Live in a home they own
• Have a household income below 80% of the area median income ($72,800 for a family of 4)
• Have consistent results of at least 15 parts per billion of lead in your water in free testing done by the Department of Water Management
• Both programs are limited to single-family and two-flat homeowners and are completely voluntary

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO REPLACE A LEAD SERVICE LINE?

Replacing a service line requires digging down to the water main in the street and installing a new copper service line from the main water line into the property. It requires excavating a trench to reach the line which usually runs from the house under the front lawn and the front parkway of the property out to the street. When the trench is open, the old lead water line will be removed and a new copper service water line will be installed along with a water meter. You can see a video below that shows the process!

TYPICAL WATER SERVICE LINE DIAGRAM

Please CLICK HERE to see a typical water service line image in Chicago, IL!

CITY-ASSISTED LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

If you live in a house or two-flat built before 1986, there is a good chance that your water service line is made of lead unless it was replaced during a renovation.

Chicago has commissioned an ongoing technical report to help us to replace the city’s almost 400,000 lead service water lines over time that transport water from the main water line from the street into our homes. The City is currently taking applications for two lead service line replacement programs for homeowners that would like to replace their lead service lines.

The first program is called the homeowner-initiated program – you can read more below:

HOMEOWNER-INITIATED PROGRAM

If a residential homeowner wants to hire a contractor and remove the existing lead service line, the City of Chicago is launching a program to waive the permit fees to have this work preformed. This could amount to a savings of up to $3,100! Additionally, the City of Chicago will attach the new water service line to the water main and provide a free water meter for the contractor to install. To qualify, the request for the fee waiver must be a standalone and not made in conjunction with a home renovation or expansion.

**Commercial and mixed use residential/ commercial locations are not eligible at this time.

WHAT IS THE HOMEOWNER-INITIATED PROGRAM PROCESS?

1) VERIFY YOUR SERVICE LINE MATERIAL

Determine if you have a lead service line – you can learn more HERE!

2) SELECT & HIRE A CONTRACTOR

The professionals @ Morning Noon Night Plumbing & Sewer Service have handled hundreds of water line replacements!

3) PERMIT FEE WAIVER

The contractor will notify Department of Buildings that this is a LSLR project eligible for permit fee waivers. *Contractors can upload their documents (water bill, picture of property, CDOT permit) to the Department of Buildings here.

**Additional permits and permit fees may be required from other agencies, such as IDOT, depending on the location of the home.

4) CONSTRUCTION COORDINATION

Meet with the contractor prior to starting work to review how the work will be done, etc.

5) COMPLETE LSLR

The contractor will complete the LSLR and meter installation (if needed). A City Inspector will then review the installation, and Water Management Staff will connect the new service line into the new main water line. Filters that are NSF-53 certified to remove lead is recommended for the first three months after any construction work.

6) FOLLOW – UP WATER TESTING

Receive free follow-up lead testing of your water by calling 311 or going to chicagowaterquality.org to have a kit mailed to you.

The second program is called the equity service line replacement program – you can read more below:

EQUITY LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

Under this program, you may be eligible for a lead service water line replacement all the way from the water main into your home plus installation of a water meter to save money on your water bills if:

• Live in a home you own
• Have a household income below 80% of the area median income ($72,800 for a family of 4)
• Have consistent results of at least 15 parts per billion of lead in your water  – testing done by the Department of Water Management

EQUITY REPLACEMENT PROGRAM STEPS

1) GET YOUR WATER TESTED

Call 311 or sign up on chicagowaterquality.org to request a free test for lead

2) DETERMINE INCOME ELIGIBILITY

Submit application documenting household income and home ownership to see if you qualify. Complete the online application or download the application form,

3) CONSTRUCTION COORDINATION

Once approved – meet with your contractor to learn about how the work will done and then agree to the work.

4) COMPLETE LSLR (Lead Service Line Replacement)

The contractor will complete the LSLR and, if necessary, the meter installation. A City Inspector will review the installation, and Water Management staff will connect the new service line into the water main. Filters that are NSF-53 certified to remove lead is recommended for the first three months after any construction work.

5) FOLLOW-UP WATER TESTING

Receive free follow-up lead testing of your water by calling 311 or going to chicagowaterquality.org.

Additionally, more information and the application process can be found @ https://www.leadsafechicago.org/lead-service-line-replacement.

Contact A Lead Service Water Line Replacement Program Contractor For Help!

We have over twenty years of experience, and have the skills and expertise to help you replace your old lead water service line. Contact Morning Noon Night Plumbing & Sewer Service for HELP TODAY!