Ken (public works staff) told the Finance Committee that Aurora will continue large water and sewer efforts in 2025, including rehabilitation of six finished-water distribution pumps, expanded lead sampling to meet new U.S. EPA requirements, and deployment of district metering to isolate leaks and main breaks.

The pump rehab will target six pumps that move roughly 70–75% of the city’s daily treated water. Bob Lively, superintendent of water production, said the mechanical components were last rehabilitated circa 2008 and staff expect the pump program to begin in 2025 and take about two years to complete.

Lively said U.S. EPA rule changes require more sampling in customers’ homes beginning next year; the water production laboratory will need an additional vehicle to support field sampling. Mike Houston, superintendent of water and sewer, said staff have completed connection of roughly 48,000 meters to a new real‑time reporting system, and the next step is installing district meters to improve leak detection and system isolation.

Houston explained district metering is technically complex because many neighborhoods have multiple inputs for redundancy. Staff aim to deploy district meters next year and begin receiving useful data soon after, which will increase accuracy as more meters come online.

On wastewater, Ken reminded the committee that Aurora must meet obligations with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) under its long‑term control plan by 2030. Staff budgeted $3,000,000 for additional sewer separation work and proposed $2,500,000 for sanitary sewer rehabilitation to reduce overflows ahead of resurfacing projects.

Ken also outlined planned water‑system capital: approximately 9,300 feet of water main replacements completed this year and a $4,000,000 water main replacement program proposed for next year, including $3,000,000 in forgivable IEPA loan funds (federal funds administered by the state IEPA). He noted an estimated $4,000,000 in programmed lead service replacements.