R2026-162 Resolution Authorizing a Professional Engineering Services Agreement with Clark Dietz, Inc. to provide Design Services for the Lead Contaminated Galvanized Water Service Line Replacement Project, City Project 2026-20

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Council Memo Public Works Department No. 2026-76 DATE: 9/8/2026 TO: Honorable Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and City Council Members FROM: Melissa Hon, City Manager Matt Newell, Director of Public Works SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing a Professional Engineering Services Agreement with Clark Dietz, Inc. to provide Design Services for the Lead Contaminated Galvanized Water Service Line Replacement Project, City Project 2026-20 SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council approve the attached Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign, and the City Clerk to attest, a Professional Engineering Services Agreement between the City of Decatur and Clark Dietz, Inc. to provide final design engineering services for the Lead Contaminated Galvanized Lead Service Line Replacement project for a fee not to exceed $563,100. BACKGROUND: In Decatur, only a few service lines have ever been constructed of all-lead material, and every known all-lead service line has been removed. However, lead goosenecks and galvanized pipes were commonly used for water service lines installed prior to 1940 and are still prevalent in the system. To meet Federal and State EPA guidelines, the City is required to remove all lead goosenecks and galvanized water service lines which are, or were, downstream of lead goosenecks. The services are termed Galvanized Requiring Replacement(GRR). In the inventory submitted to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency(IEPA) in 2026,which was primarily based on tap cards and maintenance records, of the 30,676 water service lines in the system, there are 6,535 suspected GRR service lines that need to be replaced. The City has published the suspected services online to allow residents to view the recorded composition of their water service line and receive a free in-home inspection to verify. Assuming an approximate cost of$10,000 per service line, the potential cost impact is $67 million. However, it is likely that many of GRR service lines have already been replaced, either on the city side of the curb box or the private side or both. Past service line inspections or replacement projects have determined the City records may only be 20%-50% accurate. All water utilities throughout the country are required to start replacing lead and GRR service lines starting in December of 2027. The Federal EPA rule requires the replacement program to be completed in 10 years. The City created a cost-sharing program to provide assistance with funding the replacement of the private portion of the water service. Since its implementation in 2024, approx. 180 water services have been replaced. Funding was increased in June 2026 to 100%up to $6,000 for residential and $10,000 for commercial.