Elgin preps residents for lead pipe replacement with map, dashboard

Elgin residents can tell if their homes or apartments have lead water pipes using a new interactive map created by the town’s GIS team.

The map is part of a new dashboard that also includes information about the city’s plans to replace the pipes and explains how the water flowing into homes can be safely used until the lines are replaced, officials said.

Lead pipe was routinely used in home construction prior to the mid-1980s. The city is responsible for the utility line that runs from the street to the house, but the line that brings water to the house belongs to the property owner.

They only pose a hazard to homeowners if the pipes are jarred by underground construction work such as water or sewer line replacement, releasing corrosion particles into the water and potentially exposing people to lead contaminants, which can lead to kidney and brain damage and birth defects, experts say .

A lead pipe removed from a home may look like this, corroded from years of being underground and exposed to water. (Seth Little/AP)

With no line break, the water can be safely used for drinking, cooking, bathing and other purposes, officials say.

Of the city’s 33,859 lead water supply lines, about 32%, or 10,871, are made of lead, according to the city. Another 1,608 are made of unknown materials and also need to be modified, data shows.

Both types of lines are required by state law to be replaced within the next 40 years, at a cost estimated by the city at approximately $135 million.

In the coming year, the City of Elgin plans to replace about 850 lead water supply lines at no cost to homeowners.

As part of this, the city has launched a Lead Service Line Dashboard at www.cityofelgin.org/lead, which provides a map, replacement program details, resources and information on the progress of lead service line replacements.

An interactive map uses information such as year of construction, historical records, and staff familiarity with the water system, according to the website.

GIS analysts have sorted data and created a web application for the public, city analyst Richard Snyder said at a recent city council meeting. “We tried to keep it short and informative,” he said.

All packages in the city can be viewed to see if they have a lead service line.

“This allows residents or others to search for the water line’s service material by a specific address,” said GIS specialist Chris Nawrot. “We tried to make it clear and concise and not too overwhelming.”

There are also links to websites about Lead Service Lines, Nawrot said.

Lead water pipes will be replaced with new copper ones in 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Seth Little/AP)

Elgin launched a program in 2018 to replace both public and private utility lines affected by underground construction or road projects. It has pledged the majority of its share of American Rescue Plan Act funds, $13.5 million, to replace lead water supply lines.

The city has also adjusted its water treatment process to prevent corrosion and is conducting a corrosion control study to find further adjustments, officials said.

Nawrot said the dashboard includes tips to reduce the risk of lead in your water, such as:

• Before using tap water for drinking or cooking, flush the water system by running the faucet on COLD for at least five minutes.
• Remove and clean faucet aerators regularly to remove dirt such as metal particles.
• Buy or lease a home water treatment device, e.g. B. a filter.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.