ROCKFORD — City Water Superintendent Kyle Saunders next week will propose a no-interest loan program to help residential water customers replace lead service lines.
Saunders said that if approved by City Council, the Water Division would tell residents when they have lead pipe service lines between the water main and their home.
“They would receive lot of information and would have three choices: One, replace at their own cost; Two, move forward with city financing at no interest; or three, do nothing.” When residents choose to replace lead service lines, the city will replace the line from the main to the property line.
Under the proposed program, the city would finance the replacement on private property and allow the resident to repay the interest-free loan through their water bill.
Treated Rockford water contains virtually no lead.
The calcium deposits coat the inside of plumbing and prevent lead from entering the water.
Flushing cold water lines by running it for a minute or two until it is cold before consuming the water is the best way to make sure lead and sediments aren’t present in drinking and cooking water, Saunders said.
The focus is on replacing water lines that for whatever reason, whether construction, repairs or pipe breaks, have been disturbed, Saunders said.
Rockford tests water for lead contamination free of charge.
Jeff Kolkey: 815-987-1374; jkolkey@rrstar.com; @jeffkolkey