Lead levels in 72 Illinois towns triggered alerts
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Lead levels in the water of 72 Illinois communities got so high in recent years that officials had to notify citizens and take action.
Why it matters: Public health authorities agree that no level of ingested lead is safe, and the detection of these high levels, known as exceedances, happened under a testing system so weak that the federal government finally updated it last year.
Reality check: Key updates don't kick in until 2027, when we can expect even more exceedances unless communities remove lead lines that connect the water main to individual homes.
Driving the news: On Monday, National health nonprofit Protect Kids from Lead Coalition released a report showing which Illinois towns experienced exceedances over the last five years.
Stunning stat: Because of outdated building codes across the state, Illinois has the most toxic lead lines in the country, leaving most single-family homes built before 1986 with potential lead in their water.
Zoom in: Towns in Central Illinois' McLean County and collar Will and Kane counties experienced the most repeat exceedances since 2020, while some of the most recent happened in Lake and Cook Counties.
The intrigue: Chicago's water system wasn't flagged in this analysis based on compliance testing of 50 homes every three years. But that doesn't mean the city's water is lead-free.
- A 2022 Axios analysis found that one-third of voluntarily tested Chicago homes carried high levels of lead in their water.
How it works: For decades, water systems have operated under federal rules directing municipalities to test home water for lead every three years and requiring corrective action if more than 10% of the samples exceed lead levels of 15 ppb.
Yes, but: Studies show that the 15 ppb threshold is much too high and misses harmful levels. In 2027 it drops to 10 ppb.
- The federal limit for bottled water is 5 ppb.
The recommendations: PKFL executive director Wendi Wilke urges municipalities to replace their lead lines now, noting that the $15 billion promised under the Biden-era bipartisan infrastructure act remains intact for now.
- "But removal will take a while," Wilkes tells Axios. "In the meantime, providing protections like filters is a practical and immediate step that communities can take to reduce exposure and build trust with the families affected by lead level exceedances."
More tips: Wilkes also recommends regularly cleaning the little filter at the end of your faucet called an aerator, and following EPA guidelines for flushing your tap for 5 minutes before consuming water in the morning and after work.