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Alarmed by chronic problems with lead-contaminated water in downstate Galesburg, federal officials are urging local officials to provide bottled water or filters to residents where testing at household taps found high levels of the toxic metal.

Though the small Knox County city stands out for repeatedly exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lead standards, a Tribune analysis of state data has identified nearly 200 other public water systems in Illinois — serving more than 800,000 people in all — where test results exceeded federal standards during at least one year since 2004.

In the Chicago region, about a dozen water systems exceeded the EPA standard at least twice during the same time period, including Berwyn and Forest View in Cook County, York Township in DuPage County, Barrington and Volo in Lake County, and Marengo and Richmond in McHenry County. […]

Drinking water typically is lead-free when it leaves a treatment plant but can be contaminated as it passes through or stagnates in lead service lines that connect homes to water mains, as well as lead plumbing inside homes. The hazards are widespread in Illinois, which has a large number of older homes and more lead service lines than any other state. [Emphasis added.]

We’re probably gonna need some national help with this.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 12:49 pm

Comments

I think this article puts the Galesburg situation in the proper context: http://www.galesburg.com/article/20160501/NEWS/160509995

We should definitely do whatever we can to eradicate every contaminated line in the country, but I don’t think it’s fair to toss Galesburg or many of these other towns into the Flint conversation. If we need to change the sampling standards, fine let’s see the case for doing so, but to me there’s a lot of media hype around this issue that’s creating undue hysteria

Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:07 pm
and I was going to add a point made by the Galesburg article.

At 3 exceedances, a town is within acceptable lead parameters. At 4 exceedances, they are “exceeding federal standards”. Whereas in Flint we’re talking about levels of between 200 ppb and 13,000 ppb with most in the 1,000 ppb range, in Galesburg the highest level was 51 ppd.

Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:10 pm
This sounds like an issue someone could use to raise their profile.

Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:21 pm
FYI

In the city, the only way to correct this is to replace the lead line from the street to your house. This is the home owner’s responsibility. It is a big job and cost between $6,000 and
$12, 000 depending on how far your home is from the street.

Comment by Groucho Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:49 pm
This is a problem with both a simple and numbingly complicated solution. Simple in that technically removing lead service lines and replacing pipes that have lead soder etc. solve the problem. Complicated because the service lines and the plumbing belong to individual home owners. Therefore they are on the hook for replacements.

Comment by Mason born Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:49 pm
At some point a program will be required to encourage the replacement of lead service line (they are biggest contributer) can’t force it perhaps allow the entire cost of replacement as a Tax credit on fed + state income taxes. It eould still be cheaper in the long run.

Comment by Mason born Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 1:54 pm
“Tribune analysis of state data has identified nearly 200 other public water systems in Illinois — serving more than 800,000 people in all — where test results exceeded federal standards during at least one year since 2004.”

Rich, do you have a link to this list of towns that have to much lead in their water?

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 2:52 pm
Mama -
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-illinois-water-lead-gfx-20160504-htmlstory.html

Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:06 pm
This site is a bit clunkier but has all the relevant info: http://water.epa.state.il.us/dww/

Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:07 pm
Let’s see…we can give raises and fat pensions to patronage hires and politically powerful public unions, or replace the contaminating pipe at fair market values, NOT prevailing wage. Health and safety of the people vs political pandering to political interests….. Madigan’s in charge…..I guess the people will just need to get used to the taste of lead.

Comment by Zonker Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:15 pm
- Zonker -

It is a local problem. The State can play a role in fixing it, but it is not the fault of state lawmakers. Or do you consider everything that goes wrong to be the fault of Madigan?

Comment by RNUG Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 3:50 pm
Great to see a Trib series that doesn’t reduce public policy issues to a shallow Kardashian-like focus on so-called “personalities.”

Like Rauner and Madigan are “personalities.”

Keep your foot on the gas. Lead in the water — what issue could be more important to the most people?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 12, 16 @ 8:15 pm