Does GS Construction replace lead service lines?

Service-line replacement itself is licensed plumbing and excavation work — on GS projects it runs through our Illinois-licensed plumbing and excavation partners, and we handle what comes after: restoring the yard, landscaping edges, and any interior finishes the work touched. If a remodel uncovers a lead line, we flag it and point you at the municipal program before anyone spends your money.

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Northbrook
Lead Pipe Replacement

Northbrook, IL

Lead water pipe replacement in Northbrook

Homeowner pays the private-side portion (b-box/shut-off valve to house foundation) minus a Village reimbursement of up to 50% of the low bid or $5,000, whichever is less; the public-side portion (water main to b-box/shut-off valve) is fully reimbursed by the Village. On water main replacement projects, the Village reimburses up to 50% (max $5,000) of the cost of replacing the lead line between the shut-off valve and the water meter. Permit fees are waived, but a permit and passing final inspection are required for reimbursement, work must be completed within 90 calendar days of low-bid approval, and cost-share participation is first-come, first-served subject to funds available in the Village Annual Budget.

Northbrook's program at a glance

Who supplies the water

Village of Northbrook operates its own water system: "the Village pumps water directly from Lake Michigan and provides all treatment necessary to make it safe to use and drink" — village-owned Water Plant operating around the clock.

Program

Lead Service Line Replacement Cost Share Program

What the homeowner pays

Homeowner pays the private-side portion (b-box/shut-off valve to house foundation) minus the Village reimbursement of up to 50% of the low bid or $5,000, whichever is less; the public-side portion (main to b-box) is fully reimbursed by the Village. Permit fees are waived, but reimbursement requires obtaining a permit and passing final inspection, all projects must be completed within 90 calendar days of approval of the lowest bid, and participation is first-come, first-served subject to funds available in the Village Annual Budget.

How to check your line

Official interactive service line inventory map (ArcGIS): https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/1dbdb00ae7474d25a9c14342064f9462, linked from the Village's Lead Service Line Inventory page (published per 415 ILCS 5/17.12). Where owners don't respond to surveys, the Village may excavate at the buffalo-box to determine the material.

How to get into the program

Submit the Lead Water Service Application Packet (https://www.northbrook.il.us/DocumentCenter/View/6509/Lead-Water-Service-Application-Packet) before work begins; apply prior to the work starting. Questions: Public Works Department, 847-272-4711. A permit from Development and Planning Services is required (fees waived); work must be inspected by the Village Plumbing Inspector.

Worth knowing

Participation is first-come, first-served, subject to funds allocated in the Village Annual Budget. Projects must be completed within 90 calendar days from approval of the lowest bid. The Village incorporates lead service line replacement into water main replacement project bids so homeowners can piggyback on village contracts. Inventory as of April 15, 2025: 12,554 total service lines, 282 lead, 12,272 non-lead; no lead water mains in the distribution system (lead services mostly in homes built before the mid-1950s). State-mandated full replacement plan due April 15, 2027 (specifics still being discussed); Illinois Act requires all lead service lines replaced by 2042 with a minimum 7% annual replacement rate from April 2027; initial plan submitted April 15, 2024 with annual updates each April.

Sources (Northbrook official pages , checked Jul 2026): www.northbrook.il.us, www.northbrook.il.us, www.northbrook.il.us — program terms change; always confirm current details with the municipality.

The Illinois picture

Illinois' Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act requires every community water supply to inventory its service lines and replace lead ones on a state-mandated schedule. Two practical consequences for homeowners: your municipality can tell you what your line is made of, and full replacement — not partial — is the standard when work happens. Many suburbs coordinate replacements with water-main projects, which is often when the cost-sharing is most generous.

Where we come in

Remodels are where lead lines get discovered — kitchen and bath projects expose the plumbing, and permit inspections check service-line material against the municipal inventory. When that happens on a GS project in Northbrook, we flag it early, point you at the program above before anyone spends your money, run the replacement through our Illinois-licensed plumbing and excavation partners, and restore everything the dig touched.

GS Construction & Remodeling is a licensed general contractor, not a municipal agency. Program details above summarize official municipal sources and change over time — confirm current terms with Northbrook before making decisions based on them.

Lead pipes in Northbrook — common questions

Who pays for lead pipe replacement in Northbrook?: Homeowner pays the private-side portion (b-box/shut-off valve to house foundation) minus a Village reimbursement of up to 50% of the low bid or $5,000, whichever is less; the public-side portion (water main to b-box/shut-off valve) is fully reimbursed by the Village. On water main replacement projects, the Village reimburses up to 50% (max $5,000) of the cost of replacing the lead line between the shut-off valve and the water meter. Permit fees are waived, but a permit and passing final inspection are required for reimbursement, work must be completed within 90 calendar days of low-bid approval, and cost-share participation is first-come, first-served subject to funds available in the Village Annual Budget. Program terms change — confirm current details with the municipality before planning around them.
How do I find out if my Northbrook home has a lead water line?: Official interactive service line inventory map (ArcGIS): https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/1dbdb00ae7474d25a9c14342064f9462, linked from the Village's Lead Service Line Inventory page (published per 415 ILCS 5/17.12). Where owners don't respond to surveys, the Village may excavate at the buffalo-box to determine the material.
Does GS Construction replace lead service lines?: Service-line replacement itself is licensed plumbing and excavation work — on GS projects it runs through our Illinois-licensed plumbing and excavation partners, and we handle what comes after: restoring the yard, landscaping edges, and any interior finishes the work touched. If a remodel uncovers a lead line, we flag it and point you at the municipal program before anyone spends your money.
Why do lead lines come up during remodels?: Kitchen and bathroom remodels expose the plumbing where it enters the home, and permit inspections increasingly check service-line material against the municipal inventory Illinois law requires. Finding out mid-project is normal — knowing your village's program before demo day is better.

Remodeling in Northbrook?

We check service-line implications as part of scoping kitchen, bath, and whole-home remodels — free in-home estimate, itemized scope.

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