Lead Service Line Replacement Progress

Published on September 18, 2025

City of Aurora Leads Public Education Efforts On Lead In Drinking Water and Lead Service Line Replacement Progress

The City of Aurora’s Water Production Division is leading public education efforts on the City’s Lead Action Level Exceedance Notice, which was issued on Monday, July 14, along with the City’s lead service line replacement progress.

The notice detailed the discovery of an elevated level of lead in drinking water in select homes across the City. Although some homes may have exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action level for lead, it is important to note that the water originating from the City of Aurora’s Water Treatment plant does not have lead in it. In fact, Aurora’s drinking water fully complies with standards set by the State and Federal government.

The Lead Action Level Exceedance Notice was issued following new testing standards instituted by the Illinois EPA, which now requires City Water Treatment Plant staff to test the first and fifth liters of water coming out of a faucet in a residential unit. This testing change contributed to a higher rate of lead being found, as the fifth liter of water spends more time in a lead service line, causing more lead particles to be present when testing. The subsequent results require, by law, that all community members be notified and that a public education graphic be mailed to all City water customers. 

The City of Aurora is committed to protecting the health and well-being of every household in the community through proper testing, treatment, and supply of water. Specific actions being taken by the City of Aurora to mitigate lead exposure risks in drinking water include:

• Continued tap water sampling of designated homes and buildings

• Public education to assist residents with actions they can take individually to reduce exposure to lead

• Evaluation of centralized enhanced corrosion control water treatment to minimize pipe and plumbing components from corroding and contributing to lead dissolving in the water

• Implementation of new corrosion control treatment upon receipt of regulatory approval

The City of Aurora is also actively removing lead and galvanized water lines to protect residents. Since 2018, the City has replaced 2,690 lead service lines, with more scheduled to be replaced in the coming years. These efforts will greatly assist in mitigating the chance for any lead particles to end up in household drinking water.

Residents who want to request replacement of their lead or galvanized service line can visit https://yourvoice.aurora.il.us/leadnotice.The interactive website includes a map that allows customers to verify if their service line is composed of lead, an unknown material, galvanized, or whether or not there are known lead connectors of unknown material feeding water into the line.

The City of Aurora will replace at no cost to the customer when lead service lines when disturbances, such as maintenance activities or underground infrastructure improvements, occur, as well as when a test reveals a service line that has a reported lead concentration level in excess of the action level. In other cases, customers can, at their own cost, replace the service line from the meter on the inside of their property out to the curb stop, and, within 30 days, the City will provide a filtration device and schedule the replacement of the remainder of the service line from the curb stop to the water main at no cost to the customer.

Beginning in 2026, the City of Aurora will strategically add additional lead service line replacement opportunities across the City, meeting the requirement of replacing three percent of the system annually.

For more information about the City’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program, residents can email waterlines@aurora.il.us.