"Water Commissioner Says Chicago Will Replace Lead Service Lines"

"Chicago’s water commissioner Randy Conner said the city will soon release a plan to remove and replace all of Chicago’s lead water lines.

The move comes after years of city officials claiming that the estimated 400,000 lead service lines connecting homes to the water main were not a serious problem.

But speaking at a City Council hearing before Chicago aldermen Tuesday, Conner said the city will unveil a removal plan in “coming weeks.”

For years, activists and journalists have been urging the city to start a replacement program, citing data that show high levels of lead in the water of some homes and inadequate testing procedures to track lead in Chicago water."

Monica Eng reports for WBEZ August 18, 2020.