Efforts to replace 13,000 water lines made of lead began on Monday morning in Cicero, as crews convert those lead pipes to copper. New water lines and fire hydrants will be installed in this first phase of work, targeting blocks on the north side of town. The project is funded by a $2.7M forgivable loan through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, replacing pipes along 48th Court, from 16th Street to Roosevelt Road. The IEPA drinking water funding was part of the 2021 federal infrastructure bill, which designated $15 billion to replace lead service lines across the country, with 49% mandated to target low-income neighborhoods. Water lines under public roads, leading to homes, will all be replaced, at no cost for residents to replace the lines leading to their homes. This four-block project is just the start of what is projected to be a $200 million need to replace 13,000 water lines in Cicero. The town has applied for additional funding to continue this work. Since 2023, Cicero has required homeowners performing substantial remodeling to replace lead service lines, which has resulted in several hundred lead service line replacements across the town.