In the spring of this year, Beatriz Salazar, a lifelong resident of Chicago’s Southeast Side, found herself alarmed when she received a letter from the city. This letter, which was translated into ten different languages, informed her that her drinking water was being supplied through a toxic lead pipe. Included in the correspondence were suggestions for reducing lead exposure, access to city programs aimed at replacing lead pipes, and a diagram detailing how lead can leach into drinking water, leading to serious health issues, particularly for children.
Salazar, who works as a housing counselor and is a mother of two, immediately reached out to friends and family upon learning this shocking news. Many of her close relatives, including her mother-in-law, received similar letters warning them about the lead pipes, but others, such as her 74-year-old mother, Salome Fabela, living just a few blocks away, did not receive any notification.
This discrepancy highlights a concerning gap in the city’s efforts to communicate important public health information. A federal rule implemented to protect drinking water mandates that Chicago officials notify approximately 900,000 residents—including renters, homeowners, and landlords—by November 16, 2024, about the potential risks of lead contamination in their water. These notifications are particularly critical as they target properties constructed before 1986, the year lead pipes were banned federally.
However, by early July, only about 7 percent of the required notifications had been sent out, leaving a significant portion of the population unaware of the lead hazards affecting their drinking water. Fabela’s home is indicated in city records as having a lead service line, yet she is among the many who have not been notified about the risks.
Megan Vidis, a spokesperson for the Department of Water Management (DWM), estimated the city is mailing approximately 3,000 letters weekly at a cost of around $8,500 per month. The DWM has requested an extension from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to delay these notifications, but so far, no extension has been granted. The state is aware of Chicago’s delays, estimating that the first round of notifications may not be completed until 2027, although they aim to provide electronic notifications by the end of the year.
The EPA’s framework requires water systems to notify residents annually until all lead service lines are replaced. Advocates express concern that the prolonged notifications jeopardize vulnerable communities who are particularly at risk due to inadequate information about their water’s safety, especially since research has found that two-thirds of Chicago’s children under six live in households with detectable lead in their tap water.
Despite city officials’ claims about their progress, the actual number of notifications sent out remains far behind other major cities like Cleveland and Detroit, which have significantly surpassed Chicago’s mailing numbers. As of early July, only around 62,000 of the 900,000 notifications had been dispatched, with instances of letters leading residents to broken web links complicating communication further.
Chicago’s challenge is exacerbated by its unique reliance on lead pipes compared to other cities, with approximately 412,000 of the city’s roughly 490,000 service lines partially composed of lead or contaminated. Alarmingly, the city anticipates that the complete replacement of these dangerous lines will take five decades, nearly three decades longer than mandated by federal regulations.
Moreover, climate change poses an additional threat by potentially increasing lead dissolution in drinking water as temperatures rise. Service lines, along with other plumbing components, can contribute to lead exposure that affects public health. Timely communication about these risks is therefore essential.
Elin Betanzo, founder of Safe Water Engineering and a key figure in the Flint water crisis, emphasized that this is the first time water utilities are obligated to inform the public about lead supply lines. Chicago has initiated several measures, such as an online tool allowing residents to check the material of service lines at their addresses and a free lead testing program, but these efforts have faced challenges. For instance, testing was temporarily halted in May due to maintenance, and residents have reported long wait times for results, causing additional frustration and concern.
Gina Ramirez, an environmental health director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, highlighted troubling stories from residents, including her mother’s experience with a lead testing issue in 2022 that yielded no results. Ramirez also pointed out that while the city has a program to replace lead lines for low-income homeowners, stepping outside this criteria leaves many families, such as Salazar’s, without financial assistance for replacements that could cost up to $30,000.
With Chicago lagging behind in its outreach efforts, advocates and residents are pushing for more immediate actions. Suzanne Novak, an attorney with Earthjustice focusing on drinking water safety, voiced concerns over the city’s apparent negligence in adequately informing residents and urged accountability from city officials. Meanwhile, the EPA requires three different types of notices based on service line materials, but Chicago has only begun mailing letters concerning confirmed lead lines.
To date, the notifications have primarily reached homes in some of the lower-income neighborhoods of the city where lead exposure risks are heightened. Salazar and her mother live in the 10th ward, a priority area, yet have both experienced delays in receiving notifications despite clear records showing they are at risk.
Continuing with filtered or bottled water has become a necessity for families like Salazar’s, creating an additional financial burden on households already grappling with environmental and health disparities. Salazar expressed frustration with the city’s response, questioning the timeline of notifications and the adequacy of the city’s communication strategy.
Vanessa Bly, co-founder of the Southeast Side neighborhood advocacy group Bridges//Puentes, has actively worked to raise awareness about lead issues since 2022. In collaboration with a Northwestern University laboratory, she has been involved in testing rapid, at-home lead tests. Bly’s outreach highlighted the lack of notifications received by many residents, generating fear that families may be unknowingly consuming unsafe water.
Those who have expressed concerns about their water quality even before knowing about the lead risk include Salazar, whose family has maintained strict water filtration practices. The urgency of the situation remains palpable within the community as residents grapple with uncertainty about their water’s safety and their options for action.
As Chicago continues its attempts to notify residents and replace lead pipes, the health and safety of vulnerable communities hang in the balance. A comprehensive plan and swift action are necessary to ensure that all residents are informed and protected as the city navigates this critical public health issue. As advocacy efforts gain momentum, the city faces growing pressure to improve transparency and accountability regarding lead exposure notifications.
As this story continues to develop, more comprehensive reporting on Chicago’s lead service lines and an interactive map revealing public health risks will be made available for affected residents. The urgent need for awareness and action in addressing the dangers posed by lead in drinking water has never been clearer, urging residents to remain vigilant and informed about their rights and resources.
image source from：grist
