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East Chicago Officials Reassure Residents About Water Despite EPA Report

Officials in East Chicago, Indiana are trying to reassure residents that their drinking water is safe. That’s because last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that testing revealed 18 homes in East Chicago had elevated lead levels. The homes are within a superfund site where a lead smelting company once operated. Greg Crowley, who heads the city’s water filtration plant, says the EPA should have worked more closely with the city to get the word out but that the water is safe. However, the city’s mayor says the city needs to replace its aging infrastructure but it’s expensive to do that.

By  Michael Puente
   

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Officials in East Chicago, Indiana are trying to reassure residents that their drinking water is safe.

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that testing revealed 18 homes in East Chicago had elevated lead levels. The homes are within a superfund site where a lead smelting company once operated.

Greg Crowley, who heads the city’s water filtration plant, said the EPA should have worked more closely with the city to get the word out -- but that the water is safe. Anthony Copeland, East Chicago’s mayor, said the city needs to replace its aging infrastructure but it is expensive to do so.

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