The city of Galesburg is starting the process of replacing 1,500 to 2,000 lead service lines in town.
At a July City Council meeting, City Engineer Wayne Carl said he’d like to begin that process this fall and now, applications are open for replacing lines in some homes.
According to a news release, the city will first begin replacement on “high priority” homes.
In order to be considered, the person most be an occupant of the home, they must fall under housing and urban development low to moderate income guidelines and there must be children under the age of six in the residence.
The actual replacement is expected to start in April or May of next year. Applications are being accepted through December 20.
Plenty of “lead” talk earlier this year essentially sparked the replacement.
The city and Knox County were scrutinized after high lead levels over a near two decade period were reported among children.
The cause of those high lead levels have been debated. While initial reports pointed to lead water lines as the major culprit, the county health department feels the bulk of the problem is tied up in lead paint and dust in deteriorating homes.
In May, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency awarded Galesburg a $4 million forgivable loan which will be used to replace the service lines.
