Village of Rockton helping residents with lead pipe replacement

The Village of Rockton has applied for a forgivable loan to cover 170 homes that need to replace lead service lines running from the water main to their homes.

Service lines are small pipes that transport drinking water from the water mains into homes. Older service lines may be made of lead, and older plumbing fixtures and faucets might also contain lead. Lead can enter drinking water when pipes or fixtures corrode. This toxic metal can accumulate in the body over time, and the adverse effects of lead exposure in both children and adults are numerous and well-documented.

The estimated start date of the project is June 2025, and it is expected to be finished by October - within five months.

Residents were first notified last May through a mailing that contained important information. On May 7, a special meeting was held at the Rockton American Center to discuss the topic.

Village President John Peterson opened by saying, “Over a year ago, the state handed down mandates that anyone who has a lead line service from the street to a house will need that line replaced.”

The Village conducted an inventory and initially estimated that around 300 homes would be affected. However, after further investigation, it was discovered that a total of 170 homes are affected.

Peterson informed the public that they have three years to start this project.

“There are health risks involved that we want to address, and this is one of the reasons that we are starting this now.”

“If we can get this fixed, I think we would want to,” Rockton Public Works Department Superintendent Jake Costello said.
Costello presented different options for the public.

“We have until 2027 to submit the final replacement plan,” Costello said. “Our biggest challenges are money and time.”
Costello talked about the public side versus the private sides. There are 13 mains on the public side, and homeowners privately own the rest.

“Where water lines tap into a main under the road, we have a gooseneck. Galvanized material contains these particles,” Costello said.

If anyone is against having anything done on their property, they can sign a waiver.

During the May meeting, questions and comments included the following topics: how matters will be managed at the Rockton Township Historical Society Museum; the use of filters on faucets; concerns regarding large trees in residential yards; what items should be replaced in homes; the procedures if a person owns multiple properties, with only one needing replacement; and a brief discussion about the potential use of a Home Service Warranty.

On Nov. 19, the Rockton Village Board of Trustees held a public hearing on the Water Supply loan program for the lead service line project. No comments were made from the public.

The village operates five active wells, three elevated storage tanks, and 32 miles of 4 to 12-inch water mains, according to a project summary and environmental assessment prepared by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).
Replacing service lines containing lead goose necks will reduce the community's risk of lead exposure. All lead service lines in the village will be replaced as part of this project.

There is a total of 162 galvanized service lines requiring replacement due to lead goosenecks with PVC.

The Village of Rockton is proposing to finance the project costs with a loan from the IEPA Public Water Supply Loan Program.

The cost estimate for the overall project is $2,229,942, which includes construction and a contingency, design engineering, construction engineering, and loan Admin and Legal costs. The Village is eligible for a 30-year term with an annual repayment of $74,331.

Plans are to repay the loan based on their current rate structure. The current average monthly water usage is based on 800 cubic feet. The current average monthly residential cost of service is $69.95.

An environmental review and impacts show that temporary adverse environmental impacts such as construction noise, blowing dust, air emissions, and soil erosion will likely occur during construction.
Ground disturbances will occur during excavation for service and installation.

The replacement of lead service lines may temporarily increase lead concentrations in drinking water due to the release of metal from scale pipes within the home that have not been replaced.
The contractor performing lead service into replacement will flush the new service lines to each home. Residents will be instructed on how to flush prior to interior plumbing.

The village has also submitted project information to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation office for consultation as part of the Natural Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The project area, The Rockton Historic District, is included in properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The department determined that no historical or archaeological properties are known to exist within the project area. Still, if any archaeological materials are encountered during construction, the Department is required to be notified.

Additionally, the village submitted information to the IDNR EcoCat website to determine compliance with the Illinois Endangered Species Act, Illinois Natural Preservation Act, and the Illinois Wetlands Act.

The IDNR Office of Water Resources has issued Regional Permit Number 3. This automatically authorizes water service line replacement projects as long as the project abides by all of the terms and conditions.

Sources for this article were also provided by the Village of Rockton to the IEPA and C.E.S. Inc, a civil engineering company located in Belvidere.

A timeline for the project can be found on the village website.

Residents will receive ample notification with all of the pertinent details through notices before any lines are going to be replaced.