Chicagoans want to get the lead out

Parents, environmentalists, policymakers and concerned citizens rally at Daley Plaza to support efforts to get the lead out of drinking water.

Clean water

Eric Michael Clark for NRDC | Used by permission
Debra Shore, regional administrator for U.S. EPA Region 5, speaking at a Chicago rally to get the lead out of drinking water in October 2023.

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.

I’m a dad of two young children. And like any parent, I want what’s best for my children and that starts with the ability to learn and grow in a safe and healthy environment. Abe Scarr
Director, Illinois PIRG Education Fund

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.

Photo by Eric Michael Clark for NRDC | Used by permission

Photo by Eric Michael Clark for NRDC | Used by permission

Photo by Eric Michael Clark for NRDC | Used by permission

Photo by Staff | TPIN

Photo by Eric Michael Clark for NRDC | Used by permission

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There is no safe level of lead. It’s time to get the lead out. Emily Kowalski
Outreach & Engagement Manager, Environment Illinois Research & Education Center
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Authors

Emily Kowalski

Outreach & Engagement Manager, Environment Illinois Research & Education Center

Emily manages the marketing and public engagement strategy for Environment Illinois's campaigns, including our campaign to protect the Great Lakes from plastic pollution. Emily lives in Chicago where she enjoys knitting and biking.

Abe Scarr

State Director, Illinois PIRG Education Fund

Abe Scarr is the director of Illinois PIRG and is the PIRG Energy and Utilities Program Director. He is a lead advocate in the Illinois Capitol and in the media for stronger consumer protections, utility accountability, and good government. In 2017, Abe led a coalition to pass legislation to implement automatic voter registration in Illinois, winning unanimous support in the Illinois General Assembly for the bill. He has co-authored multiple in-depth reports on Illinois utility policy and leads coalition campaigns to reform the Peoples Gas pipe replacement program. As PIRG's Energy and Utilities Program Director, Abe supports PIRG energy and utility campaigns across the country and leads the national Gas Stoves coalition. He also serves as a board member for the Consumer Federation of America. Abe lives in Chicago, where he enjoys biking, cooking and tending his garden.

staff | TPIN

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