A Naperville survey completed this spring found properties still have lead water lines, with nearly two dozen homeowners rectifying the problem in the last two years by using a city rebate program that helps cut the cost of line replacement.
Under recently imposed requirements from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the city of Naperville notifies residents when their water meter is being replaced and when a water main replacement or repair is occurring within one block of their location. Both can cause lead from the pipes to be released into the water. A rebate program is available for residents who choose to replace the affected pipes. In , 11 homeowners used the program. People who moved to the city 20 or more years ago may not have been thinking about lead pipes, LaCloche said.
While lead pipes were used in homes built in the early s, the city of Naperville banned their use prior to The Environmental Protection Agency banned lead pipe use nationally in Lead pipes are essentially safe unless disrupted, which can lead to be loosened and released into the water.
The problem with lead pipes is an issue for many older towns, but the number in Naperville is far lower than in others. The city is discussing what financial options might be available to residents to help pay for the work. By Erin Hegarty. More in Naperville Sun.
