Chicago water meter program halted after testing reveals lead contamination - World Socialist Web Site

11.7.19

Chicago water meter program halted after testing reveals lead contamination - World Socialist Web Site: By Benjamin Mateus
10 July 2019
Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot, has halted work on the installation of new water meters across the city after new rounds of water testing revealed significant lead contamination of drinking water in many homes. More than one out of every five homes with newly installed “smart” water meters were found to have spikes in lead in water.

The findings of significant levels of lead in Chicago’s water are not new. Officials have known for many years that the city has a serious lead contamination issue related to drinking water.

While most major water mains are being replaced, many homes in Chicago continue to access the water through old lead service lines. A joint study conducted on 32 homes by the Chicago Department of Water Management and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in 2013 unequivocally stated, “Lead levels measured with sequential sampling were highest within the lead service lines, with maximum values more than four times higher than Chicago’s regulatory compliance results using a first-draw sampling protocol.”