Springfield, Illinois –City Water, Light and Power’s lead service line replacement work is well underway in 2025. Thanks to a $2.9 million in Federal monies provided through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Public Water Supply Loan Program (PWSLP) State Revolving Fund (SRF) in 2024, around 400 homes in Census Tracts 16 and 23 within Wards 2 and 3 low income areas where CWLP has identified a high density of lead service lines will have lines replaced. Work began in March and is expected to be complete in 2027. CWLP operations and maintenance funds are covering the cost of replacement for the utility-owned portion of lead service lines.
In addition, over the next couple of weeks all CWLP customers with confirmed lead service lines, suspected lead service lines or galvanized steel service lines downstream from lead lines, will receive notice about the potential health risks associated with lead exposure and best practices to reduce exposure. This notice will go out to approximately 9,000 impacted CWLP water customers in pre-1930s construction and is required to go out annually until all lead service lines or galvanized steel lines located downstream of lead are replaced.
CWLP’s regulatory lead service line water sampling results have been favorable due largely to the utility’s water treatment process and higher pH of the water, which limits the risk of metals, such as lead, from leaching into Springfield’s drinking water from lead service lines and plumbing fixtures containing lead or copper. However, in situations where water is left standing for extended periods in plumbing systems and service lines where lead or copper pipe or solder exists, contamination into drinking water is a possibility. CWLP’s lead awareness and safety page,
https://cwlp.com/LeadAwareness.aspx, provides information on lead and drinking water safety, along with information on its lead line survey and replacement program.
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CWLP’s lead service line replacement work began in 2019 and has accomplished over 800 replacements to date but there are another approximate, suspected 10,000 lead service lines remaining needing replacement. State and Federal Regulations requiring lead service line replacement are set to take effect in 2027. For more information on lead safety, CWLP’s lead service line surveys and replacement plans visit, https://cwlp.com/LeadAwareness.aspx. Customers with questions can c all our Lead Awareness Water Line, 217.789.2323 ext. 1631 or e-mail publicinformation@cwlp.com
