More than two-thirds of Chicago’s young children may be exposed to lead, study says
Chicago has some 400,000 lead pipes – and replacement of those pipes is slow-going.
By Max Lubbers
More than two-thirds of Chicago’s young children may be exposed to lead, study says
Chicago has some 400,000 lead pipes – and replacement of those pipes is slow-going.
By Max LubbersA new study found that more than two-thirds of Chicago children under 6 years old may be exposed to lead-contaminated water.
This is a longstanding problem, with Chicago bearing the title of having more lead pipes than any other city in the nation.
There are no known safe levels of lead in a child’s blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Department of Water Management has introduced corrosion control into drinking water to mitigate lead and offers free water testing along with five programs to replace lead pipes, a city spokesperson said in a statement.
Chicago has replaced 5,395 lead service lines under those programs, according to the department of water management. That’s out of some 400,000 total pipes.
Reset host Sasha-Ann Simons spoke about potential solutions to this issue with a panel:
Chakena Perry, senior policy advocate for environmental health for the Natural Defense Council
Brenda Santoyo, water justice program manager for Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune environment reporter
You can listen to the full conversation above.
Why there are so many lead pipes in Chicago
Until a federal ban in 1986, Chicago’s building code required single family homes and two-flats to install lead pipelines.
Changes and progress on the horizon
A 2021 state law requires Chicago to remove all lead pipes within 50 years.
A federal proposal could put Chicago under a slightly tighter timeline. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to strengthen its Lead and Copper Rule to require water systems to replace lead lines within 10 years. But Chicago would only be required to replace 8,000 to 10,000 pipes annually – which translates into about 40-50 years.
The Biden administration is loaning $336 million to Chicago to help with that effort.
The city has before repaired lead pipes by attaching a piece of copper or other material, but leaving the lead pipe in place. Starting in 2023, a new state law banned that partial lead service line replacement. This year, Chicago must finish an inventory of all lead lines and report it to the Illinois EPA.
The Johnson administration has set a goal of replacing 40,000 lead service lines by 2027, according to the mayoral transition report.
Resources for reducing lead contamination
Experts suggest you should get your child tested for lead starting at a young age. Chicago has free or sliding scale blood lead tests at neighborhood clinics. You can contact the Chicago Department of Public Health at 312-747-LEAD.
If you live in a house, two-flat or a small building built before 1986, it’s likely that your water service line is lead, according to the city’s department of water management.