‘I Thought We Solved This Problem!’
With what is known about the dangers of lead pipes, and how its effect can be a city-wide catastrophe, it would be wise for cities to crack down on the removal.
Effects included brain damage, growth stunt, and hearing problems for children. For adults, causes include hypertension, anemia, reduced sperm count, and increased risk of a miscarriage.
Last year, the state of Illinois supposedly replaced 288 million pipes after a federal law had been passed. The law’s introduction held states accountable for the pipes and promised a solution to this threat.
The Environmental Protection Agency is still forcing cities to replace the pipes. Chicago is one of these cities, as 400,000 more lead pipes out of many other U.S. counties. Using an unknown method more sensitive than the government’s, 3,500 samples were collected in less than 73 homes.
Windy City Excuses
So why is Chicago still leading in the number of unreplaced lead pipes? The city only focused on water treatment instead of pipe replacement. Since Chicago wasn’t forced to replace lines like other cities, state, and local officials say the funds are better used elsewhere.
Another reason for the revelation happened in 2012. The city planned to change the pipes with cast iron. Pipes that ran through homes were replaced with short pieces of copper near the water main. Time after time, unfortunately, the junctions were reburied and left the rest.
Chicago residents filed a proposal arguing how the ignorance of lead pipe control affects families. But the case got dismissed.
Is the Water at Least Drinkable?
Yes. With the standards set by the EPA, the water is regularly treated and regulated. The process includes:
- Filtration.
- Disinfection.
- Chemical treatment to remove impurities.
- Sediment.
- Bacteria.
- Potential contaminates.
The water is drawn from Lake Michigan and is put through a process that takes precise care to make sure it’s usable.
Some Change Is Better Than Nothing at All
Convincingly, the city of Chicago has been pressured into assisting in the removal of lead pipes in the area and is currently working on it.
But, there are two downsides to this process: time and money. With the thousands of pipes still around, the operation won’t be resolved in one night. Andrea Cheng, Commissioner of Chicago Water Management, says it requires expensive constitution methods and thousands of dollars in lead replacement costs.
Even if the state and local officials tamper with the money, the EPA and Chicago residents are still making this situation public.
Del Toral was not the only one to object to the city’s actions. Two Chicago residents filed a proposed class action in 2017, arguing Chicago’s water main work increased people’s risk of lead exposure. They cited studies that said ignoring lead pipes and leaving them in the ground can spike levels in tap water.
This led to the city handing out filters to residents while public works continued to remove pipes. Chicago also offers a limited free lead pipe replacement program for buildings that are low-income residents or daycares.
Written by Daylontie Jasper
Source:
Chicago Leader: Illinois to Remove More Lead Pipes by 2022; by Daylontie Jasper
WBEZ Chicago: Here’s why there is still so much lead pipe in Chicago; by Michael Phillis and Camille Fasse
Pasta Pretzels and Passports: Can you drink tap water in Chicago in 2023 ?; by Marianne Giordano
Feature Image Courtesy of Jo Zimny Photos‘ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image by Dave Wethington Courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District‘s Flickr Page- Creative Commons License
