The Village of Algonquin, IL

A water service line is the pipe that connects the Village's water main in the street or parkway to your household plumbing. In Algonquin, the water main to each curb stop (outside shut off valve) is owned by the Village, and from the curb stop to the water meter inside the home is traditionally owned by the homeowner.

Lead is a toxic metal that is widespread in the environment and can be absorbed from a variety of sources (paint, food, soil, air, and water).

Lead in the water supply comes from the plumbing that is located between the inside of a house and the water main in the street (typically referred to as the service line). Lead does not come from the water treatment plants or Village-owned water mains that distribute water to homes.

Generally, there are three sources that could leach lead into the drinking water:

• Lead Service Lines: A service line is the pipe that connects your house to the water main in the street. Some service lines that run from older homes (usually those built before 1940) to the utility water main are made from lead. Over time, some of these older service lines have been replaced, but many homes could still have one.
• Lead-Tin Solder Joined Copper Pipes: Copper piping has often been used since the 1930’s for home plumbing, but the solder (an alloy of tin with lead and antimony) used to fuse the pipes together typically contained elevated levels of lead prior to 1986, the year it was banned.
• Household Faucets & Fixtures: Lead can also corrode from metal faucets and fixtures made from brass, an alloy of copper and zinc that often contains lead impurities, including chrome-plated brass fixtures. Therefore, a home with no copper or lead pipe may still have elevated lead levels due to brass fixtures. Plumbing fixtures with a lead content of less than 8% used to be legally defined as “lead free” but since 2014, “lead free” refers to fixtures with a lead content of 0.25% or less.

Please check with a certified plumber to identify any sources of lead in your home.

Homeowners are encouraged to use the lead service line identification map to check the service line material for their home. The inventory was developed using data collected over several years from installation records, permits, and field inspections. If your home has been identified as containing lead or is of an unknown material, please complete the form attached to the property details to be contacted by our Water & Sewer Utilities team to schedule an inspection.

Starting in early 2020, the Village began mailing letters to homeowners listed on the Village's lead service inventory to schedule inspections to verify the status of suspected lead service lines, as our records might not reflect repairs or replacements made after the original service line was installed.

Homeowners that are not on the list, but would like their service line inspected, can submit a service request to our Water & Sewer Utilities team to make an appointment for a staff member to come to your home to verify your service.

While the Village owns and operates the water mains, service lines that connect homes to the main water supply are not considered part of the public water system. Typically, homeowners are responsible for the entire portion of the water service line connected to their property, including its maintenance and repair. However, under our specific program aimed at safeguarding public health and ensuring water quality, the Village will identify and replace lead service lines at no cost to the homeowner.

In accordance with Illinois statute (415 ILCS 5/17.12), the Village will submit a draft lead service line replacement plan in 2024 and a final plan by 2027.

The specifics of the Village’s plan are currently being developed. In accordance with the statue, the Village’s completed plan will include:

• A lead service line replacement schedule within the required timeframe.
• A location map of known inventory of lead service lines and a plan schedule for their removal.
• Continued public education to inform the public of the plan and provide opportunities for public comment.

There are many steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead in the drinking water, but if you have a lead service line, the best step you can take is to have it replaced. Additional steps include:

• Run your water to flush out lead. Before using water for drinking or cooking, flush the cold-water faucet by allowing the water to run until the water has become as cold as it will get (usually 2-3 minutes). Do this for any faucet used for drinking or cooking.
• Always use cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Never cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water dissolves lead more quickly than cold water. So, do not use water taken from the hot tap for cooking or drinking and especially not for making baby formula.
• Clean and remove any debris from faucet aerators. Removing and rinsing away any particles that have become trapped on your faucets aerator’s will clear lead that may become trapped and improve the overall water quality.
• Do not boil water to reduce lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
• Identify and replace plumbing fixtures containing lead. Brass faucets, fittings and valves may leach lead into drinking water.
• Have a licensed electrician check your wiring. Your home electrical system may be attached to your service line or elsewhere in your plumbing for grounding purposes. If this connection is electrified, it may accelerate corrosion. Check with a licensed electrician to evaluate your system and to correct any ground faults. Do not attempt to change the wiring yourself because improper bonding or grounding can cause electrical shock and fire hazards.
• Consider purchasing a water filter. When purchasing a water treatment device, make sure it is certified under NSF/ANSI 53 to remove lead. Search for certified products at NSF International (800-NSF-8010) or Water Quality Association (630-505-0160).

Algonquin's water treatment plants have been treating water to minimize lead and copper exposure in the drinking water. This corrosion control plan is approved and regulated by the IEPA and requires the Village to conduct periodic testing of selected homes to measure the treatment effectiveness. The Village has followed and been in compliance with the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule.

To learn more about lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791 or at https://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

If you would like to have the water in your home tested for lead, please contact LeadCare Illinois to register for a sampling kit and instructions. Homeowners may can also submit a service request to our Water & Sewer Utilities team to perform a water quality test at no charge.

In 1986, Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments eliminating the use of materials containing lead in new construction. Pursuant to this Act, in 1991, the US EPA issued the Lead and Copper Rule to regulate the levels of lead and copper allowed in public drinking water. It sets action levels for these contaminates and mandates water systems regularly and test for their presence. This rule requires water treatment plants to add approved phosphate chemicals to control lead and copper levels in drinking water. The phosphate creates a thin layer on the inside of pipes to prevent drinking water from directly coming in contact with metal. The Village of Algonquin has been in full compliance with the rule.