Decatur Lead Service Line Replacement Program
Decatur serves about 76,122 people and reported 0 lead and 6,535 galvanized service lines that must be replaced, out of 30,676 lines, in EPA's Q3 2026 inventory, plus 12 lines of unknown material. Here's who pays to replace yours, what it costs, and how to sign up.
50% up to $3,000
Decatur's cost-sharing program, adopted in January 2023, pays 50% of a residential private-side replacement, up to $3,000 (commercial: up to $5,000), and the city replaces the public side free when you use it. Private lines typically cost $2,000 to $7,000 in Decatur. The program is popular, so you may be waitlisted. A full replacement program starts in 2027 under Illinois law.
How to get it
- Call the Water Service Division at 217-875-5705 to check eligibility.
- Apply for the cost share and get on the waiting list if needed.
- Hire a contractor only after approval.
Sources: decaturil.gov, decaturil.gov
Lead lines in Decatur
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result EPA lists for this system is 0 parts per billion (2025-07 to 2025-12). Under the new federal rule, the action level drops to 10 ppb in 2027. Galvanized lines count if they ever sat downstream of a lead pipe, because they can hold lead particles. Unknown lines must be identified by the utility, and many turn out to be lead.
How Decatur compares: it ranks #73 of 7,556 U.S. water systems and #11 of 397 in Illinois for lead and galvanized lines. 21.3% of its service lines need replacing, compared with 23.8% across Illinois. See the national ranking.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory, Q3 2026 · Utility phone: 217-424-2863 · PWSID IL1150150
Decatur lead service line map: check your address
Every water utility had to publish an inventory of its service lines, and most offer an address lookup map. Start with Decatur's official lead program page, which links to its lookup or explains how to get your line checked. The status will be lead, galvanized requiring replacement, non-lead or unknown. If it's unknown, you can usually check the pipe yourself and send the utility a photo.
Communities and ZIP codes served
ZIP codes: 62521, 62523
Who pays in Illinois?
Illinois was one of the first states to require full replacement of every lead service line. Each water supply must file a final replacement plan by April 15, 2027, then replace a set share of its lead lines every year, on a timeline of 15 to 50 years depending on how many it has. A utility may bill the owner for the private side only if it is not using state or federal money for that work, and an owner can sign a waiver to decline private-side replacement. Illinois EPA lends to water systems and forgives part of the loan in lower-income communities, which is why many Illinois programs are free.
The law: Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (415 ILCS 5/17.12). Mandatory? Yes. Illinois requires every community water supply to replace all lead service lines, and partial replacements have been banned since January 1, 2022. Funding: Illinois EPA Public Water Supply Loan Program (with principal forgiveness for disadvantaged communities).
Sources: news.wttw.com, agendadocs.downers.us
Nationwide, EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements require most utilities to replace every lead and galvanized-requiring-replacement line by December 31, 2037, starting November 1, 2027. Utilities must mail a notice every year to each home with a lead, galvanized or unknown line. See the federal timeline.
Local cost: Decatur says private service line replacement typically costs $2,000 to $7,000.
What would you pay?
Many utility loans are 0% (enter 0). Private loans run higher. Your real price depends on how far the house sits from the street, digging versus trenchless methods, permits and restoration. This is an estimate, not a quote.
Not covered, or can't wait?
Get up to 3 quotes from licensed plumbers who replace service lines in Decatur.
Common questions
Is lead service line replacement free in Decatur?
Not fully free; it's a cost share (50% up to $3,000). Decatur's cost-sharing program, adopted in January 2023, pays 50% of a residential private-side replacement, up to $3,000 (commercial: up to $5,000), and the city replaces the public side free when you use it.
Is lead service line replacement mandatory in Decatur?
Illinois law requires all lead lines to be replaced.
How much does it cost to replace a lead service line in Decatur?
Decatur's program pays 50% up to $3,000. On a $7,500 job, that's $3,000 from the utility and $4,500 from you. Most private-side replacements cost about $4,000 to $10,000, and long or difficult lines can run higher. Price depends on the distance from the street to your house, whether the contractor digs a trench or pulls the new pipe through (trenchless), permits, and restoring your lawn, sidewalk or basement wall.
How do I know if my home has a lead service line?
Look up your address on Decatur's service line inventory or check the letter it mailed you. You can also check the pipe where it enters your basement, usually near the meter: lead is dull gray, soft, and turns shiny silver when you scratch it with a key, and a magnet won't stick. Galvanized steel is gray too, but a magnet sticks to it. See our step-by-step guide.
What if I can't afford to replace my lead line?
Ask Decatur about income-based help first; federal money often makes replacement free for low-income owners. Other options are utility payment plans, 0% city loans, state revolving fund programs, property tax assessments and home improvement loans. Our guide on paying for replacement lists them.
Who owns the water service line?
In most U.S. cities the utility owns the pipe from the water main to the curb stop or property line, and the property owner owns the rest, into the house. Some utilities, including Minneapolis and many in St. Louis County, treat the whole line as the owner's. Federal rules now require utilities to replace the whole lead line, not just their part.
Other Illinois programs
Chicago ✓Aurora ✓Rockford ✓Cicero ✓Peoria ✓Berwyn ✓Evanston ✓Elgin ✓Oak Park ✓Waukegan ✓
Something out of date? Report a change. We recheck program terms at least once a year.