Chicago has the most lead pipes in the nation. We mapped them all
10 days ago
- #environmental-justice
- #lead-contamination
- #public-health
- Chicago has the highest number of lead water service lines in the nation, with an estimated 412,000 out of 491,000 lines containing lead.
- Majority Black and Latino neighborhoods bear the biggest burden, with 92% of service lines in majority-Latino tracts and 89% in majority-Black tracts requiring replacement.
- Lead exposure can cause serious health issues, including neurological, kidney, and reproductive problems, with infants and children being particularly vulnerable.
- Chicago is lagging behind federal requirements to replace lead pipes, with a completion target set for 2076, three decades past the federal deadline.
- The city offers a free testing kit for residents to check their water lines and some programs to cover replacement costs for low-income homeowners.
- A 2024 study found nearly 70% of Chicago children under 6 live in homes with detectable lead levels in tap water, with Black and Latino children less likely to be tested.
- Advocates argue that federal regulations on lead in drinking water are inadequate and that more funding and political action are needed to address the crisis.
- Residents like Gina Ramirez face daily challenges, including purchasing bottled water and filtering tap water, due to the slow pace of pipe replacements.
- The disparity in lead pipe distribution highlights broader environmental and health inequities in Chicago, particularly affecting South and West Side communities.