The Homewood Village Board, at the Dec. 9 meeting, awarded a construction contract To Trine Construction LLC for the village’s 2026 lead service line replacement project.
This will be the first phase of a long-term project to remove lead water service lines throughout the community. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency requires lead service line replacement to be completed within 10 years, by 2036. The estimated cost to complete this work in Homewood is $76 million.
The board awarded the contract to Trine Construction for an amount not to exceed $2.33 million. Public Works Director Joshua Burman said once the contract is approved by the IEPA, the village will begin to move forward on the project, hopefully in March.
The aim is to replace 267 lead service lines by the end 2026. The village has a total of 4,363 lead service lines within its water system, Burman said.
The project is funded through a State of Illinois revolving loan awarded by the IEPA. Homewood received $4,137,498 for the 2026 construction year, which includes $2.46 million in principal forgiveness and $1,672,498 in zero-interest loans to be repaid over 30 years, he said.
According to Burman, the village plans to replace 410 service lines annually starting in 2027 and continuing through 2035, with the remaining 406 lines scheduled for 2036. This will balance regulatory compliance with construction, resident coordination and financial sustainability.
Under federal guidelines, Homewood will prioritize replacing lead service lines that serve “vulnerable populations,” including schools and childcare facilities, Burman said.
The replacement work will use a construction method known as directional boring to “minimize surface disruption.” Contractors will create two to three small access pits and drill from the street to the building. A new copper water service line will then be installed and connected to the village’s water main and the building’s interior plumbing. All disturbed areas will be sealed and restored once work is complete, he said.
According to Burman, Trine Construction has completed lead service line replacement work for multiple municipalities in the Chicago area and has experience with underground utility construction since 1976.
Access agreements will be distributed to property owners before construction begins to get permission and outline the restoration responsibilities. Village staff, along with engineering firm Burns & McDonnell, will oversee the project to ensure deadlines are met and customer service standards are maintained, Burman said.
