Water main installed with boring technique to reduce inconvenience to customers

Illinois American Water is investing approximately $200,000 to replace 1,500 feet of water main in Pekin. The water main located on Crescent Drive between Coolidge Drive and Sheridan Road will be replaced with 12-inch water main. The new water main will be installed through the use of boring to decrease any inconvenience to customers.

“Most of our water service system is underground and takes some effort to get to it,” said Tony Hall, operations superintendent for the Pekin District. “By boring we can make this investment and enhance water quality and water pressure with little inconvenience to our customers.”

The need to replace pipe that is not able to meet increased water service demands is something Illinois American Water has been addressing for many years through its water main replacement program. The program focuses on replacing mains where leaks occur, corrosion has caused damage or the size of the pipe isn’t sufficient. According to Hall, many of the pipes in the system were installed in the early 1900s and are small in comparison to modern standards in water mains.

“The small size of the pipes, coupled with corrosion and sediment accumulation over the years makes the replacements necessary, said Hall. “Illinois American Water continues to invest annually in its systems to ensure that local water quality and service continues to be as good as or better than local, state and federal quality standards.”

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, to continue ensuring high-quality drinking water, the nation’s water utilities will need to invest about $335 billion over the next 20 years. Illinois American Water’s investment in main replacement in the Pekin is just another effort in continuous investments and improvements being made, helping to meet the demands of today’s customers and planning for the future.