Lead Service Line Replacements – Cook County, Illinois

The Chicago Department of Water Management’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program is a citywide initiative to remove aging lead service lines and restore safe, reliable water service to residents. The project enhances public health, ensures compliance with construction and safety standards, and promotes equitable access to clean drinking water throughout Chicago.

Construction Engineering and Oversight
DB Sterlin provides comprehensive construction engineering services, delivering full-time inspection and oversight of contractor activities to ensure adherence to contract plans and specifications. Responsibilities include verifying proper materials, tracking quantities, confirming service line depth and separation requirements, inspecting traffic control measures, maintaining photographic documentation, and preparing daily inspection reports consistent with contract and CDWM standards.

Coordinating Complex Urban Programs
The program requires careful coordination with residents, contractors, and city stakeholders. DB Sterlin participates in pre-construction meetings, manages as-built documentation, and tracks project progress using CDWM’s InforEAM system. The team supports multiple initiatives, including voluntary programs such as the Equity Lead Service Line Replacement Program and the Daycare Program, as well as required programs including the Breaks and Leaks Program and the Block-Level Replacement Project.

Delivering Safe and Reliable Water Service
Through detailed construction engineering, inspection, and program coordination, DB Sterlin ensures the safe replacement of lead service lines from water mains to residences while restoring affected areas to preconstruction conditions. The project supports CDWM’s broader public health objectives, enhances equity in water service access, and enables efficient program tracking, reporting, and grant management across thousands of properties citywide.