Joliet advances water distribution upgrades with lead line replacement funding and water main easements

Joliet advances water distribution upgrades with lead line replacement funding and water main easementsThe Joliet City Council approved a change order for its ongoing lead service line replacement initiative, leveraging EPA forgivable loans to shield homeowners from costs, while also securing necessary utility easements for the Glenwood and West Acres water main project.

The City Council approved an $89,410 change order to Stipp Bros. Excavating Inc. for Phase 4 of the ongoing lead service line replacement program.

The lead line replacement is funded through an EPA forgivable loan, ensuring the city does not charge homeowners for the pipe removals.

Council members also approved necessary ComEd easement agreements to facilitate the Glenwood and West Acres Water Main Improvement Project.

The City of Joliet, Illinois, is pressing forward with upgrades to its drinking water distribution network following the City Council's approval of key capital project items on May 19, 2026. During the meeting, the council unanimously approved an $89,410 change order for Phase 4 of the city's lead service line replacement contract with Stipp Bros. Excavating Inc. The additional funding acts as a contingency buffer, allowing contractors to immediately replace any undocumented lead service pipes discovered during ongoing excavation work. A council member noted that the city's lead replacement initiative, which has been running successfully for several years, is financed through a forgivable loan program backed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because the EPA forgives the loan as long as the funds are strictly applied to lead service removal, the city is able to complete the health-critical infrastructure upgrades without passing the replacement costs on to local homeowners. In addition to the lead line initiative, the council approved two standard easement agreements with utility provider ComEd. These easements, located just east of Hammes Avenue along Glenwood Avenue and Oneida Street, are required to facilitate the ongoing construction of the Glenwood and West Acres Water Main Improvement Project. Both the lead line change order and the water main easements were passed seamlessly as part of the council's consent agenda after receiving positive recommendations from the Public Service Committee.