FREE Lead Water Line Replacement Available for Eligible North Chicago Homes
Your Home May Qualify for a FREE Water Service Line Replacement
The City of North Chicago is replacing lead water service lines in eligible homes and businesses at NO COST to property owners through an Illinois EPA-funded program.
Why This Matters
Lead service lines can affect drinking water quality. Replacing older lead lines with new copper service lines helps protect your household and improves our community's water infrastructure.
Who Is Eligible?
This phase of the project includes approximately 175 properties located:
- East of Green Bay Road
- South of Argonne Road
- North of Broadway Avenue
What You Need to Do
If your property is in the project area, a member of the North Chicago Public Works Department will visit your home and leave:
✓ Information about the program
✓ An Access Form needed to schedule the work
Please accept and review these materials. We cannot replace your service line without your participation.
The Process Is Simple
- Receive and review the project information.
- Schedule a brief pre-installation visit.
- Public Works staff will verify your water line material and water meter location.
- If your property has a lead service line, it will be replaced with a new copper service line at NO COST TO YOU.
The pre-installation visit takes only a few minutes and does not require construction equipment.
Don't Miss This Opportunity
Replacing a lead service line can be expensive for homeowners. Through this program, eligible properties can receive a full replacement free of charge.
Questions? Ready to Schedule?
Call or Email one of the following:
- North Chicago Water Department: 847-596-8634
- North Chicago Public Works Department: 847-596-8870
- FiveStar Energy Services (Contractor for Project): Adam Seidl: 262-403-1902
- Trotter and Associates, Inc. (Project Engineering Firm): puckett@trotter-inc.com
Take advantage of this FREE program and help improve the quality of drinking water for your home and our community.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
HOMEOWNER'S ACCESS GRANT FORM TO AUTHORIZE THE LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT WORK
Background Information on the Lead Water Service Lines Program
The City of North Chicago Public Works Department has identified lead water service lines (LSL) within the City and will work with State and Federal Agencies to assist in replacing both public and private lead service lines.
The City is here to support you in this process. Please note that the source of North Chicago’s drinking water contains no lead. The City’s water mains that carry the water to your home or business are not made of lead. However, lead was commonly used as a material in plumbing before the mid-1950s. This practice was not banned until 1986. If water service lines or home plumbing are made with lead, they could introduce lead into your drinking water. The surest way to keep your household safe is to identify and eliminate potential lead sources. The City wants to help in that process.
North Chicago has received monies through a grant for the first round of water service replacements. The City will be looking for alternative ways to acquire additional grant funding through State and Federal agencies to help replace lead water service lines.
If your property meets the program criteria for replacement within this first round, the potential that your lead water service line from the water main into the home could be replaced at zero cost to you. This is a significant cost saving, as a typical water service line replacement can range upwards of $10,000 - $15,000.
What’s a Water Service Line?
A water service line is the smaller pipe that delivers water from the City water main, which can be in the street or the back or side yards of your home. The service line runs from the City’s water main to the water shut-off just past the water meter inside the house.
The City is responsible for the water service from the water main to the property line. The property owner is responsible from the property line to the building, including all the plumbing inside of the building.
North Chicago's Lead Service Line Replacement Plan
To learn more about the City of North Chicago’s LSLR Plan, which was provided to the EPA on September 1, 2024, please click here to:
REVIEW THE LEAD SERVICE PLAN
This document also includes a "Lead Service Line Inventory" that shows the final numbers from the City’s lead service inventory program.