Lead Service Lines
Below, Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson responds to our environmental questionnaire on the topic of lead service lines.
Q: Chicago has nearly 400,000 lead service lines, the most of any city in the country. But to date, only 280 lines have been replaced, and that’s even with historic federal investments in water infrastructure available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. State law gives the city a 50-year timeline to finish the job, which provides little clarity on when we can expect this work to be complete.
If elected mayor, would you commit to setting clear goals for replacing a specific number of lead service lines by the end of your first term?
A: Lead in drinking water is a public health issue that needs immediate attention. Chicago’s lead problem is vast and current replacement efforts have moved at a slow pace. Developing a robust lead service line replacement plan will require us to determine the true cost of replacing each lead service, completing our lead service line inventory, and setting clear goals based on feasibility and community priorities. Replacing lead service lines is an important step towards ensuring safe and clean drinking water for all residents. Setting clear goals for lead service line replacement can help track progress and ensure accountability. Some potential considerations for setting such goals include:
Lead Service Line Inventory - Continue to develop the city’s lead service line inventory. There’s approximately 400,000 known lead service lines in Chicago and more than 800,000 unknown lines across the state. Having a clearer sense of how many lead service lines actually exist in Chicago will help the city develop a robust replacement plan. Low-income, and Black and Brown communities, have a disproportionate number of lead service lines in their neighborhoods. It is imperative that communities most impacted by contaminated drinking water are prioritized in the city’s replacement efforts
Learn from Other States - States like Michigan and New Jersey have replaced their lead services lines in an equitable and efficient manner. The city should research what others have done to tackle their lead service line issues and determine what’s feasible to implement in Chicago to expedite our replacement efforts. The City can also work with the State of Illinois to strengthen its Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act even further to support our work.
Assessing the extent of the problem - Collaborating with stakeholders - Engaging with residents, community members, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders will help ensure that lead service line replacement goals are relevant, feasible, and responsive to community needs. A group of community organizations prepared a document titled, Principles of Lead Service Line Replacement, which outlines various ways cities can approach lead service line replacement in an equitable manner. This guide is worth referencing to help improve our efforts.
Key Investments - In addition to the funds available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, continue to explore alternative revenue options to fund lead service line work. Investments in workforce development can also support replacement goals.
Monitoring and evaluation - Regularly monitor and evaluate progress towards the number of service lines replaced and where they’re located s can help identify areas of success, areas of improvement, and opportunities for adjustment or refinement.
Q: If so, how would you work with agencies and unions to ensure these goals are achieved and how would you prioritize neighborhoods where data shows the greatest lead burden?
A: Prioritizing neighborhoods with the greatest lead burden requires a collaborative approach that involves engaging with stakeholders and using data-driven decision-making processes. By working together, agencies, unions, and community organizations help ensure that lead service line replacement goals are achieved in a timely and equitable manner.