Chicago suburb finds elevated lead levels in water; city announces free filters, water line replacements
Recent testing in Elgin found elevated lead levels in drinking water at nearly half of the high-risk homes sampled, mostly due to aging lead service lines.
The city is launching a $150 million effort to replace every lead line at no cost to residents and is offering free water filters and testing.
Officials urge residents to flush faucets before use and check the city's online dashboard to see if their home may be affected.
ELGIN, Ill. - Recent water testing in Elgin found elevated lead levels in drinking water in nearly half of the homes and buildings most at risk, city officials announced Tuesday.
By the numbers
Routine monitoring earlier this year showed that 48 out of 100 tested homes and buildings — primarily those built before 1988 with lead service lines — had lead levels above the federal action level of 15 parts per billion. The 90th percentile value of the samples reached 43 parts per billion.
City officials stressed that lead is not found in Elgin's source water or in treated water from the city's plants; rather, it comes from corrosion in lead service lines or plumbing fixtures connecting homes to the water system. The city now uses a more stringent "fifth liter" sampling method to better measure lead in those service lines, which is likely why levels appeared higher.
The city's response
Elgin is launching a multi-year, $150 million effort to replace every lead service line in the city at no cost to homeowners. The city is currently replacing about 1,000 lead lines a year, with roughly 2,790 lines replaced since 2018.
Other measures include offering free water filters and lead testing for residents in homes built before 1988, expanding community education, and partnering with local health departments to prevent exposure.
The city also maintains an online dashboard where residents can check if their property has a lead service line and track replacement progress. Officials recommend residents flush faucets for at least five minutes before drinking or cooking, especially after water has been sitting unused.
Lead exposure can cause serious health risks, particularly for young children and pregnant women, including developmental delays and damage to the brain and kidneys.
What you can do
Residents can learn more or request free filters and water tests at elginIL.gov/lead or by calling 311.
The Source
The information in this report came from the City of Elgin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
10 minutes ago
- CBS News
Teens who vape have higher rates of depression and anxiety, new research says
Wrapped in fruity flavors and sleek designs, e-cigarettes have been drawing in young people for years and new research finds teenagers who vape have higher rates of depression and anxiety. "It's small, it's portable, it's got tons of flavors," said Lyn Powell, a vaper in Boston. "Almost everybody I know got a vape — or if they don't have a vape, they're trying to hit somebody's vape." Walking in the Fenway area Friday afternoon, he told WBZ-TV it's the convenience that keeps him vaping. "You don't gotta light nothing, there's no smell. You can do it in the bathroom, in buildings, it's just more convenient," said Powell. But Brian King, Executive Vice President at Tobacco-Free Kids, said flavors are what hook young users. "The advertising will lead a horse to water, the flavors will get them to drink — and the nicotine keeps them coming back for more," King said. According to FDA data, more than 1.6 million kids still use e-cigarettes, and nearly 90% of them use a flavored product. "[It declined] from about over 5 million kids in 2019, down to about 1.6 million kids," King said. "But bad news is we've still got more work to do." Unlike traditional cigarettes — "Where many times, some of the more serious risks can be decades away like lung cancer," explained Dr. Alexia Arauz Boudreau, a primary care pediatrician at Massachusetts General Hospital, she said vaping can affect health immediately. "It actively changes your brain chemistry. Teens or anybody who uses are at risk about getting chemical lung burns." To curb access, in 2020, Massachusetts made history banning retail stores from selling flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars, and flavored e-cigarettes. However, Powell says it is still possible to get them. "A lot of stores sell them under the table," he said. "And the police really don't care." On Friday afternoon, WBZ-TV reporter Samantha Chaney bought a strawberry ice flavored vape from a convenience store in Boston-- they didn't even ask her for ID. King said there's no single fix to this issue — but a united front can make a difference. "Ultimately, it's going to be that coordinated approach that's going to work," he said. "And it's a good reminder that we have to redouble our efforts."
Bloomberg
10 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
RFK Jr. to Oust Advisory Panel on Cancer Screenings, WSJ Reports
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to oust members of the advisory board that decides which preventive health measures are covered by insurance, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Kennedy is expected to remove the 16 members of the US Preventive Services Task Force because he views them as 'woke,' the Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Earnings Teleconference Moves to Earlier Time on July 29
July 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As previously announced, UnitedHealth Group will release its second quarter 2025 financial results on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, before the market opens. The start time for the teleconference has moved to 8:00 a.m. ET, 45 minutes earlier than previously announced, to allow more time for discussion of results with analysts and investors. This call will be webcast on the Investor Relations page of the company's website ( The replay will be available through August 12 on the website. About UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a health care and well-being company with a mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone through two distinct and complementary businesses. Optum delivers care aided by technology and data, empowering people, partners and providers with the guidance and tools they need to achieve better health. UnitedHealthcare offers a full range of health benefits, enabling affordable coverage, simplifying the health care experience and delivering access to high-quality care. Visit UnitedHealth Group at and follow UnitedHealth Group on LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts Investors: investor_relations@ Media: uhgmedia@ Sign in to access your portfolio
