This article is a collaboration between Grist, Inside Climate News, and WBEZ, a public radio station serving the Greater Chicago area.
Chicago faces an uphill battle in its efforts to eliminate lead service lines, with over 412,000 confirmed and suspected lead connections — more than any other city in the United States. Unfortunately, the city’s current replacement timeline stretches into 2076, which is alarmingly 30 years beyond a federal mandate. This issue poses severe public health risks as lead leaches into drinking water, leading to cognitive deficits and developmental challenges in children, among other serious health concerns.
Secure · Tax deductible · Takes 45 Seconds
Secure · Tax deductible · Takes 45 Seconds
During a city council committee meeting on Monday, several alderpersons raised concerns regarding the snail’s pace of the city’s lead pipe replacement initiative and pointed to a troubling delay in notifying nearly a million Chicago residents about the hazardous conditions posed by these pipes.
Officials from the water management and finance departments expressed that they lack the resources to meet the federal deadlines. Brendan White, the city’s debt manager, revealed that millions in federal and local funding earmarked for replacement projects are sitting unused. Since 2023, the city has only tapped into $70 million to $90 million of a $325 million federal loan set to expire next year, although spending is expected to ramp up in 2026.
“We just discovered there are hundreds of millions of dollars lying dormant without any action being taken,” remarked Alderman Raymond Lopez, representing the 15th Ward on Chicago’s South Side.
Under state and federal law, the city was required to notify roughly 900,000 property owners, tenants, and landlords about the potential hazards of lead in drinking water by last November. By early July, however, only 7 percent of those notifications had been issued. More recently, Patrick Schwer, the director of water quality, reported that around 75,000 notifications had now gone out, increasing the outreach to approximately 22 percent of the overall targeted audience.
“The city typically gets a 10 to 12 percent response rate for testing kit requests when sending notifications,” Schwer said. He expressed concerns about fulfilling demand, as the city’s capacity for testing is limited, stating that “there aren’t enough physical lead sampling bottles available in the country to meet potential requests.”
There’s a growing debate about the effectiveness of such notifications, especially given that many recipients may discard them. Schwer questioned the expense associated with mailing notifications instead of investing that money directly in line replacements. Nonetheless, some experts highlight that such notifications can serve as vital public health measures, allowing residents to take necessary precautions to reduce lead exposure.
“Just because we assume some information won’t be utilized doesn’t negate our responsibility as a department,” asserted Chakena Sims of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
In addition to federal loans, the city has secured its own funding for lead pipe replacements but has likewise underutilized these funds. The water management department allocated around $41.5 million of an authorized $60 million for these replacements in 2023; however, another $72 million borrowed in June has seen minimal expenditure. This leaves approximately $320 million in unsecured loans available for the project.
Estimates indicate that the full replacement of Chicago’s lead service lines could run up to $14 billion, though many experts believe this figure could be significantly lower. Advocates demand stronger action from city leadership and state lawmakers, with Alderman Gilbert Villegas stating that he called for the hearing to hold the mayor’s administration accountable. “We need a sense of urgency,” Villegas implored, likening the slow deterioration of lead infrastructure to a “ticking time bomb.”
In the resolution drafted by Villegas, he criticized the city’s late notifications and its sluggish replacement efforts, also pointing out how rising climatic temperatures could worsen lead leaching into drinking water, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Gabby Plotkin from the Illinois Environmental Council noted, “This meeting underscored that Chicagoans remain in the dark regarding whether they have a lead service line.”
With ongoing uncertainty surrounding federal funding, city leaders are contemplating innovative funding strategies that can be locally sourced.
“We cannot wait another 20 or 25 years for an administration that prioritizes working with us on this crucial issue,” stated Alderman Matt Martin from the North Side.
Stay tuned for more: Ongoing investigations into Chicago’s lead pipe crisis will be published. Sign up to be notified for future updates.
Have you been affected by lead pipes or lead exposure in Chicago? Share your experience with us. Additionally, learn how to assess your risk and how to protect yourself with our FAQ guide here.
