Chicago Refuses to Dig up Pipes Made of Toxic Lead

CHICAGO, IL — Cities across the country — like Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Denver, St. Paul, and Boston — are digger deeper to remove toxic lead water pipes connecting homes to street mains. These cities are funding municipal construction projects by using money from local funds, offering homeowners payment plans, or using low-interest loans. Chicago, on the other hand, is not.

Chicago is leaving it to individual homeowners to determine whether it's worth replacing the pipes at their own expense.

Emanuel has borrowed $412 million from a federal-state loan fund during the past six years for water-related projects. None of that money is being used to replace lead pipes, yet Chicago has had more lead services lines than any other city, The Chicago Tribune reports.

More than two-thirds of the loan has been used to replace 440 miles of aging water mains, which helps prevent leaks, but can also increase the chances of Chicagoans being exposed to lead in their drinking water.

Instead, more than two-thirds of the money has been earmarked to replace 440 miles of aging water mains — work that helps prevent leaks but can inadvertently increase the chances Chicagoans are exposed to lead in their drinking water.

"Residents are paying a horrible price for Chicago ignoring overwhelming scientific evidence of health concerns," Marc Edwards, who's a Virginia Tech researcher who played a major role in uncovering lead hazards in Flint, Mich., told The Chicago Tribune. "If they were honest about the dangers ... it is at least possible the money could be found to do the job right."

To find out more, check out this article.

Photo courtesy of Grant Hollingworth/Flickr