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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Skokie
Lead Pipe Replacement

Skokie, IL

Lead water pipe replacement in Skokie

Village pays for the public-side replacement; for the private side, "the Village's Lead Service Line Replacement program caps a private property owner's costs for the private side replacement of lead at $3,090 (adjustable annually as costs rise)." When Village projects (water main replacement, emergency repairs/leaks) trigger a replacement, the Village splits private-side costs 50/50 with the owner. The average private-side replacement alone costs approximately $6,000 through the Village's competitive bidding (vs. roughly $10,000 via a private plumber). Program expanded Dec 1, 2025 so households "will be able to self-select to participate in the cost-share program – even if they don't have a leak or a water main replacement project scheduled for their block," with projects scheduled as funding and resources permit and enrollment details promised by January 1, 2026. Homeowner cost: capped at $3,090 for the private-side replacement (adjustable annually as costs rise); payable all at once or via a "15-year payment plan at 1% interest" through the water bill. Separate rebate program: $750 or $1,250 water-bill credit for residential owners who already replaced their lead/galvanized line since January 2022, provided they document the replacement, are current on utility charges, and did not use the cost-share program.

Skokie's program at a glance

Who supplies the water

Village of Skokie operates its own distribution system; since 1944 Skokie has purchased its water from the City of Evanston (Lake Michigan water). The Village owns the public side (water main to Buffalo Box); the property owner owns the private side (Buffalo Box to water meter).

Program

Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Cost-Share Program (plus a separate Lead Service Line Rebate Program)

What the homeowner pays

Capped at $3,090 for the private-side replacement (adjustable annually as costs rise); financeable over 15 years through the water bill — the Village describes a "15-year payment plan at 1% interest" / "very low interest." Separate rebate program: $750 or $1,250 water-bill credit for owners who already replaced their line since January 2022.

How to check your line

Interactive service line inventory map at skokie.org/inventory, or a scratch-and-magnet test (screwdriver, sandpaper, refrigerator magnet) described on the Village's Lead Water Service Lines page.

How to get into the program

Complete the Village's LSLR Cost-Share Program interest form (online via skokie.org / CivicPlus form); residents who cannot access the online form may contact Skokie Public Works at 847-933-8427 to complete it by phone.

Worth knowing

Program expansion to self-selecting households approved by Village Board Dec 1, 2025; enrollment process details promised by Jan 1, 2026, with funding identified in the May 2026 budget process. Village plans 600+ service line replacements annually beginning in 2027 (ramping to 688/year per the expansion announcement), continuing 15+ years; projects scheduled to maximize replacements "as funding and resources permit" and coordinated with scheduled water main projects and emergency repairs.

Sources (Skokie official pages , checked Jul 2026): www.skokie.org, skokie.org — 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 Skokie, 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 Skokie before making decisions based on them.

Lead pipes in Skokie — common questions

Who pays for lead pipe replacement in Skokie?: Village pays for the public-side replacement; for the private side, "the Village's Lead Service Line Replacement program caps a private property owner's costs for the private side replacement of lead at $3,090 (adjustable annually as costs rise)." When Village projects (water main replacement, emergency repairs/leaks) trigger a replacement, the Village splits private-side costs 50/50 with the owner. The average private-side replacement alone costs approximately $6,000 through the Village's competitive bidding (vs. roughly $10,000 via a private plumber). Program expanded Dec 1, 2025 so households "will be able to self-select to participate in the cost-share program – even if they don't have a leak or a water main replacement project scheduled for their block," with projects scheduled as funding and resources permit and enrollment details promised by January 1, 2026. Homeowner cost: capped at $3,090 for the private-side replacement (adjustable annually as costs rise); payable all at once or via a "15-year payment plan at 1% interest" through the water bill. Separate rebate program: $750 or $1,250 water-bill credit for residential owners who already replaced their lead/galvanized line since January 2022, provided they document the replacement, are current on utility charges, and did not use the cost-share program. Program terms change — confirm current details with the municipality before planning around them.
How do I find out if my Skokie home has a lead water line?: Interactive service line inventory map at skokie.org/inventory, or a scratch-and-magnet test (screwdriver, sandpaper, refrigerator magnet) described on the Village's Lead Water Service Lines page.
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 Skokie?

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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