CHICAGO HEIGHTS – The Illinois EPA announced a combined $130,000 is coming to three communities in the 40^th District to help them identify service lines that may contain lead.

“Safe, clean drinking water is a resource that all people should have access to,” said State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex). “Lead present in drinking water has shown to be very harmful to people’s health, and with this funding, our communities will be able to ensure families won’t face this problem alone.” 

Senator Joyce voted for the legislation creating the Lead Service Line Replacement Notification Act in 2021. The Lead Service Line Replacement Notification Act establishes timelines and requirements for the removal and replacement of all lead service lines in Illinois and creates a low-income water assistance program to help fund financial assistance and water projects that include lead pipe replacement.

The three communities in Joyce’s district who have received Lead Service Line Inventory Grants are Chicago Heights, South Chicago Heights and Steger.

Illinois has more lead service lines than any other state in the nation, with an estimated 730,000 to 1.4 million lead service lines in the ground. There is no safe level of exposure to lead.  

“This funding will provide many communities with the necessary funding to develop a complete inventory identifying the types of water lines that exist in their drinking water supplies,” said Illinois EPA Director John Kim.

To see a full list of Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) Grants, click here.