HILLCREST – The Village of Hillcrest is considering an ordinance that would allow water shutoffs for residents who do not comply with water line inspections, as officials work to identify potential lead service lines. Although the village currently has no confirmed lead lines and 60 service lines of unknown material, upcoming federal requirements could force costly action if surveys are not completed. Officials say cooperation is needed to avoid disruptions, including possible yard excavation or more.
Village of Hillcrest Attorney Paul Chadwick said they could write an ordinance where water could be shut off for non-compliance.
“So I think that would be the first step is to say we’d like to be able to get in and see our water mains, but beyond that there would be authority in the ordinance now to shut off water. If residents refuse to allow village officials to get in to inspect the water main, the hope is that by inspecting the water main we can also determine whether there is lead in the water main service line,” he said.
Hillcrest must submit updated data to the Environmental Protection Agency by April 2026, part of a national effort to replace an estimated 6 to 10 million lead service lines across the U.S.