Chicago’s Lead Problem
Chicago, like many major cities, is facing significant challenges to meet federal mandates to remove all lead service lines. Unlike other major cities, however, the cost to replace those lead service lines in Chicago introduces unique obstacles.
Based on a recent article jointly published by Grist, Inside Climate news, and WBEZ, the cost to replace a lead pipe is six times the EPA estimate of $4,700 per line. Officials say that it will cost the city an average of $31,000 to replace each service line. Chicago also has the largest known amount of lead service lines, totaling more than 400,000 pipes, bringing the cost for complete replacement to more than $12 billion. A survey of 18 other US cities found that their cost for replacement averaged between $6,000 and $25,000 per pipe, well below the numbers reported for Chicago.
With this in mind, residents might not see their lead service lines replaced until 2076. The current plan is to replace 8,300 pipes every year for 50 years, but this timeline may be hindered by the high cost for replacement. In the meantime, residents will continue to be exposed to potentially harmful levels of lead. To better understand lead risks throughout Chicago, Inside Climate News mapped lead pipes based on a 2025 inventory of water service lines. The analysis breaks down likely pipe material by community area and census tract, and compares percentage of lead service lines to demographic information including poverty rate and race. Inside Climate News found that while lead service lines remain an ongoing issue for the entire city, black and latino neighborhoods are hit the hardest.
So what can you do? The EPA recommends a variety of methods to reduce lead risks for residents with lead service lines (see Filters vs. Autoflushing). These methods include using a filter, cleaning your aerators, using cold water, and flushing your pipes. The most effective methods include filters and flushing pipes, as these methods directly reduce risks. Filters will remove lead out of water, but need to be replaced. Flushing water through your pipes ensures that lead never gets into your water in the first place (see How does lead get into tap water?). The City of Chicago’s Department of Water Management recommends daily flushing to reduce lead risks. Inconsistent flushing, however, reduces the effectiveness of this strategy. This is where an automated flushing system, such as the Noah System, can help. Noah System will automatically flush water through your pipes, reducing the concentration of lead to non-detectable. This system has been successfully implemented in Chicago Public Schools, and can be installed at any point of use, whether that be home, school, office, or hospital. †
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