River Forest, IL

Lead water pipe replacement in River Forest

Homeowner hires and pays the plumbing contractor up front and is reimbursed by the Village only after all work is completed, inspected, and approved: 100% of Village-portion costs (water main to buffalo box) up to $5,000 and 50% of private-portion costs (buffalo box to water meter) up to $2,500, with total reimbursement capped at $7,500 unless otherwise approved by Village Staff. Reimbursement is calculated from the lowest of the three required contractor estimates regardless of which contractor is selected, so choosing a higher bid increases the homeowner's out-of-pocket share. Homeowner bears: the other 50% of private-side costs and anything above the caps; the replacement cost of any non-lead piping; cost increases from installing a water service larger than the required minimum (1-1/2" in the right-of-way; 1" on the private side, or larger based on fixture count); removal/replacement of interior walls and finishes; landscaping and excavation restoration beyond program limits (32 sq ft); restoration of landscaping and correction of subsidence on private property; and future maintenance from the buffalo box to the water meter. Private-side replacement is recommended but not mandatory; if a leak occurs on the private portion, immediate repair is required but full copper replacement is still only recommended. For the separate IEPA-driven village-initiated replacement program, homeowner cost "has not yet been determined" and "may be dictated by the funding sources."

River Forest's program at a glance

Who supplies the water

Village of River Forest owns/operates its own community water supply; Lake Michigan water treated at Chicago's treatment plant, then piped to the Village's Pumping Station where additional chlorine is added before distribution.

Program

Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program — resident assistance component branded "Get the Lead Out" Resident Assistance Program (reimbursement program, Revised June 2024)

What the homeowner pays

Homeowner hires and pays the plumbing contractor up front and is reimbursed only after all work is completed, inspected, and approved: 100% of Village-portion costs up to $5,000 and 50% of private-portion costs up to $2,500 (total cap $7,500 unless otherwise approved by Village Staff), with reimbursement calculated from the lowest of the three required contractor estimates regardless of which contractor is selected. Homeowner bears: the other 50% of private-side costs and anything above the caps, replacement of non-lead piping, cost increases from installing a water service larger than the required minimum (1-1/2" in the right-of-way; 1" on the private side, or larger based on fixture count), removal/replacement of interior walls and finishes, landscaping beyond program limits, private-property restoration/subsidence, and future maintenance from buffalo box to meter. For the separate IEPA-driven village-initiated replacement program, homeowner cost "has not yet been determined" and "may be dictated by the funding sources."

How to check your line

Two official options on vrf.us/leadsurvey: (1) submit a photo survey (contact info plus two photos of the water service/meter, from 2 ft and 10 ft) at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/630d1ae3c26d40dc941f1df7181244e8; (2) view the interactive ArcGIS dashboard map of known service line materials at https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/a2df30b07e374a9c8565440d6173ce88. Village staff site inspections are also available for properties impacted by projects.

How to get into the program

Obtain at least 3 contractor estimates; complete the Reimbursement Program Application Form and Property Owner Participation Agreement (in the Get the Lead Out packet at vrf.us); submit a single full permit package (application, agreement, itemized estimate separating Village and owner portions, scope description, site plan, Water Service Sizing Detail) through the Village's online permit portal at https://riverforest.onlama.com using permit type "Plumbing with Digging". Program is administered by Public Works (Public Works Director, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305; 708-366-8500). After completion and approved inspections, submit the Request for Reimbursement Form; reimbursements typically issued and mailed within 2-4 weeks.

Worth knowing

LSLR Program approved by Village Board May 2021. Program is not retroactive — work started before Village approval is not reimbursable; one reimbursement per property; all lead portions must be replaced at the same time; 1-1/2" Type K copper (or other IEPA-approved material) basis; 3-year warranty on labor and materials required; directional drilling through the public right-of-way unless otherwise approved. Separate from the reimbursement program, the Village is developing an IEPA-mandated inventory and replacement plan; residents receive notice by mail 45 days prior to scheduled replacement work, and the Village replaces its portion with copper during water main projects. The Village states it "will continue to pursue all funding opportunities available for this work" (state/federal grants and loans); no village loan program is published. No published waitlist.

Sources (River Forest official pages , checked Jul 2026): www.vrf.us, www.vrf.us, www.vrf.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 River Forest, 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 River Forest before making decisions based on them.

Lead pipes in River Forest — common questions

Who pays for lead pipe replacement in River Forest?

Homeowner hires and pays the plumbing contractor up front and is reimbursed by the Village only after all work is completed, inspected, and approved: 100% of Village-portion costs (water main to buffalo box) up to $5,000 and 50% of private-portion costs (buffalo box to water meter) up to $2,500, with total reimbursement capped at $7,500 unless otherwise approved by Village Staff. Reimbursement is calculated from the lowest of the three required contractor estimates regardless of which contractor is selected, so choosing a higher bid increases the homeowner's out-of-pocket share. Homeowner bears: the other 50% of private-side costs and anything above the caps; the replacement cost of any non-lead piping; cost increases from installing a water service larger than the required minimum (1-1/2" in the right-of-way; 1" on the private side, or larger based on fixture count); removal/replacement of interior walls and finishes; landscaping and excavation restoration beyond program limits (32 sq ft); restoration of landscaping and correction of subsidence on private property; and future maintenance from the buffalo box to the water meter. Private-side replacement is recommended but not mandatory; if a leak occurs on the private portion, immediate repair is required but full copper replacement is still only recommended. For the separate IEPA-driven village-initiated replacement program, homeowner cost "has not yet been determined" and "may be dictated by the funding sources." Program terms change — confirm current details with the municipality before planning around them.

How do I find out if my River Forest home has a lead water line?

Two official options on vrf.us/leadsurvey: (1) submit a photo survey (contact info plus two photos of the water service/meter, from 2 ft and 10 ft) at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/630d1ae3c26d40dc941f1df7181244e8; (2) view the interactive ArcGIS dashboard map of known service line materials at https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/a2df30b07e374a9c8565440d6173ce88. Village staff site inspections are also available for properties impacted by projects.

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 River Forest?

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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