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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Ken Schroth, Public Works Director/City Engineer
DATE: August 20, 2018
SUBJECT:
Establishment of a Private Service Line Replacement Program
PURPOSE:
To resume maintenance and improvement projects for underground infrastructure while awaiting direction from the State legislature.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Aurora has long-prided itself on providing clean, safe, and good-tasting water to the community. The City replaced the last remaining lead pipes in its water distribution system many years ago and there is no detectable level of lead in the finished water pumped from our water treatment plant.
The City’s publicly owned and maintained water distribution system ends where a water service connects to the public water main. The water service line is the responsibility of the private property owner. While Congress banned installation of new lead service lines (LSLs) in 1986, many residences still utilize private LSLs installed well before 1986.
Private water service lines need to be repaired or replaced for a variety of reasons, such as when a leak is discovered or when the service line crosses a sewer that is being replaced. Research has shown that replacing a portion of a LSL can raise the lead level at the tap for weeks or months. Replacing the entire LSL between the public water main and a building’s water meter would be safer, but it requires work on private property and increases the project cost. For this reason, the potable water industry has begun campaigning to “get the lead out” of community water systems by prioritizing the replacement of private LSLs.
Senator Heather A. Steans introduced Illinois Senate Bill 3080 on February 15, 2018. This bill has been amended several times and presently has no clear timeline for adoption, but a key aspect of the bill would require every community water system in Illinois to create a plan to remove all known LSLs, including LSLs that are privately owned and on private property.
With the expectation that this bill would give the City the responsibility and the authority to replace LSLs on private property, City staff has delayed maintenance projects and capital improvement projects in areas with LSLs, as much as possible. The current backlog of projects, together with uncertainty caused by the pending legislation, gives the City reason to consider establishing a program for replacing LSLs whenever they are disturbed by maintenance and capital improvement projects.
DISCUSSION:
Replacing a service line is the responsibility of the property owner, but it represents a significant unplanned expense for many property owners. In order to promote the removal of LSLs, the City should pay for replacement of LSLs between the public water main and the limits of the right-of-way. The average cost would be approximately $4,500 per service line. The City should strongly recommend the property owner replace the portion of the LSL on private property, which would cost the property owner approximately $3,000 per service line. The City could provide the property owner with three options:
1. Finance replacement of the LSL on private property on their own;
2. Finance replacement of the LSL on private property with a loan from the City; or
3. Opt not to replace the portion of the LSL on private property.
If the property owner selects Option 3, he or she should be required to sign a form acknowledging the health risks and the City’s notification not to drink or cook with the water unless it is filtered. If the property owner chooses Option 1, the property owner could choose any licensed contractor to do the work. The property owner could also set the schedule for the work, but should not drink or cook with the water (unless it is filtered) until the work is done.
If the property owner wants City financing, the property owner should choose from a list of pre-approved contractors and obtain at least two quotes. The work should be completed within 90 days from the date the City’s work within the right-of-way is performed, but the property owner should not drink or cook with the water (unless it is filtered) until the work on private property is done. The loan should be paid back to the City with interest according to a schedule agreed upon by the City and the property owner. The City should also place a lien on the property equal to the amount of the loan.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The annual expense for this Private LSL Replacement Program is expected to be between $900,000 and $1,500,000, depending on the number of LSLs replaced and the number of property owners that select Option 2. In a typical year, the City may perform maintenance on approximately 135 LSLs and may disturb another 65 LSLs as part of capital improvement projects. If all the property owners select either Option 1 or Option 3, the Program would cost the City approximately $900,000 per year. If all the property owners select Option 2, the City would take on the additional upfront cost of financing the LSL replacement on private property, which would add another $600,000 or so to the cost of the Program.
The additional cost of this Program would be funded by the various accounts used to fund the capital improvement projects: 510-4058-511.73-02 (Watermain Eval, Repair and Replacement), 281-1856-512.73-09 (LTCP Improvements), and 510-4063-511.73-14 (Sanitary Sewer Evaluation & Rehabilitation). Establishing a Private LSL Replacement Program would simply reduce the number of projects that can be completed each year.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends establishment of the Private Lead Service Line Replacement Program."
cc: Building, Grounds and Infrastructure Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution to establish a Private Service Line Replacement Program.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, many properties in the City of Aurora rely on a privately owned water service line made of lead; and
WHEREAS, the City can promote the removal and replacement of lead service lines by establishing the Private Service Line Replacement Program; and
WHEREAS, the Private Service Line Replacement Program can be funded by the various accounts used to fund the City’s capital improvement projects and maintenance of the City’s water distribution network.)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Private Service Line Replacement Program is hereby established as described in Attachment A.