The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has given Galesburg preliminary approval for a $4 million forgivable federal loan to eliminate about a third of the city’s lead service lines.
The City of Galesburg announced today that the money will pay for the removal and replacement of about 2,000 privately-owned lead service lines. The city estimates replacing all 4,700 lead lines would cost more than $10 million.
City officials are making plans to prioritize line replacement based on residents’ financial needs, properties with high lead levels in water tests and properties where residents have higher than normal blood lead levels.
Mayor John Pritchard said in a statement lead service lines are a widespread problem in Illinois that “contributes to the public health risk of lead poisoning, along with other sources such as decomposing lead paint.”
He went on to thank Congresswoman Cheri Bustos for confronting “lead contamination at the local, state and national level.”
The financing will also offset costs for providing residents with educational programs, water testing, water filters and anti-corrosive additives to city water.
At Monday’s Galesburg City Council meeting, aldermen approved spending $5,000 to start the application process for a $450,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that would fund the replacement of 150 to 200 lead lines.
