City Clarifies State-Mandated Lead Service Line Letters

Litchfield City Council Meeting | Nov. 6, 2025

Article Summary: City officials addressed confusion regarding recent letters sent to residents about lead and galvanized water service lines. The notices were a mandatory requirement from the Illinois EPA, not an indication of a new immediate crisis or specific city action.

Lead Line Notice Key Points:

• Mandatory Notice: The letters were required by the IEPA for any customer identified as having a lead or galvanized service line.

• Compliance: Litchfield has submitted a replacement plan to the IEPA and is waiting for approval.

• Responsibility: The city will cover the cost of replacing the external portion of the lines; internal plumbing remains the homeowner’s responsibility.

• No Immediate Crisis: The letter was a notification of potential risk, not an announcement of contaminated water.

Litchfield officials sought to calm resident concerns on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, regarding a recent wave of letters sent to homeowners concerning lead water lines.

City Administrator Breann Vazquez explained that the notices were strictly a compliance measure mandated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The letters were sent to any resident whose property has been identified as having a lead or galvanized service line.

“The IEPA requires this specific notification… to make them aware of the health risks that could be associated with that, and to encourage them to have their water privately tested,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez noted that the city was not allowed to alter the language of the state-issued letter or include a clarification insert, which she admitted “could have been a little bit confusing” for recipients.

The city has submitted a plan to the state for the eventual replacement of these lines and is currently awaiting IEPA approval.

“We will be providing more information on the replacement process… and letting customers know what part of the city will be responsible for replacing,” Vazquez added.

Currently, the plan dictates that the city will be responsible for the portion of the service lines outside the home, while any replacements inside the home would be the responsibility of the individual homeowner.