Chicagoans want to get the lead out

There is no safe level of lead in our water. Lead is highly toxic and especially damaging to children — impairing how they learn, grow and behave. Several studies link low lead levels with learning loss in children.

When it comes to drinking water at our schools, where our children go to learn, Illinois is not making the grade. Illinois PIRG and Environment Illinois recently gave the state a “D” grade for policies aimed at stopping pervasive lead contamination of schools’ drinking water.

Chicago has some of the most lead service lines of any city in the country. On October 4, 2023 concerned citizens, parents, environmentalists and policymakers rallied in Chicago’s Daley Plaza to urge action to get the lead out.

The good news is, we have the opportunity to get the lead out of our drinking water. Schools can replace fountains with water stations that have filters certified to remove lead. Schools can also install, test and maintain filters certified to remove lead on all taps used for drinking or cooking. Local and state governments can set policies to ensure that schools are no longer using plumbing and fixtures that leach lead into water. And as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers updates to the Lead & Copper Rule, we urge it to incorporate a 10-year deadline to fully replace all lead service lines.