LEAD-SAFE CHICAGO
Before January 1, 2014, a larger amount of lead was allowed in brass valves, fittings, and fixtures (such as faucets). Replace faucets manufactured before 2014 with newer faucets to reduce the chance of leaching lead into your water.
While Chicago’s drinking water meets all safety standards, lead can get into water in a number of ways. Take the following steps to keep your water lead safe.
Whenever you have not used for 6 hours or more, run your water for at least 5 minutes before using it for cooking and drinking. This moves out water that has been sitting in your pipes and pulls through the corrosion control that the city adds to prevent lead and other contaminants from leaching into water. Everyday activities like taking a shower, doing laundry, washing dishes, and watering the lawn all count towards flushing the water. Lead is not absorbed through the skin, so these activities are not a concern. If there has been work done on the water mains outside your home or it has been vacant for a while, you may need to conduct more extensive flushing. For more detailed instructions click here.
Drink and cook only with water from the cold water tap. Hot water can dissolve lead more quickly. Boiling water does not remove lead.
Drink and cook only with water from the cold water tap. Hot water can dissolve lead more quickly. Boiling water does not remove lead.
Regularly (at least once per month) remove the aerator screen from the tip of your faucets, rinse out any particles, and re-attach. Sediment, rust and metals, including any lead may collect in faucet aerators. For more detailed instructions click here.
Before January 1, 2014, a larger amount of lead was allowed in brass valves, fittings, and fixtures (such as faucets). Replace faucets manufactured before 2014 with newer faucets to reduce the chance of leaching lead into your water.
Any Chicago resident concerned about lead in their home's water, may request a free water test by a certified lab. Simply request a free test kit and when it arrives, follow the instructions carefully to collect water samples. When you are done, schedule a pick-up by city representatives. If you think you’ll need help filling out the lead test kit, you can also request an in-person visit from one of our technicians. You will be notified of your results and if your home’s water tests above the U.S. EPA’s action level of 15 parts per billion of lead, the Chicago Department of Water Management will send out a team consisting of a plumbing inspector, sanitary engineer and electrician to make recommendations on how to reduce your lead levels.
Chicago’s water is safe to drink, but out of an abundance of caution, DWM is offering free water filter sets to eligible homes. The water filter set consists of a water pitcher and 6 cartridges NSF-certified to remove lead if used correctly. You may qualify for a free water filter if you:
Visit us here to see if you are eligible. If you are eligible, your full address will appear as you type. Fill out the required fields to have the water filter set mailed to your home.
As part of the Chicago Department of Water Management’s (DWM) proactive approach to water quality research, DWM launched Chicago’s Water Quality Study in 2016 to investigate the possible impact of water main construction and meter installation residential lead levels. This is the most comprehensive scientific study to explore these issues ever conducted. The study compares the before and after water samples from homes on blocks where the City is replacing water mains or piloting new ultrasonic meter installation. The sampling approach in the study is rigorous. It requires collecting four water samples for each test, making the process more likely to detect levels of lead.The study’s goal is to complete before and after sampling in a total of 1,200 homes near water main construction or 150 homes with new ultrasonic meter installation. If you have received a notice that DWM will be replacing water mains in your area, please register for the water main portion of the study. To volunteer to for an ultrasonic meter and be part of the study, you must live in a house and already be registered for the MeterSave program. For more information, please email: chicagowatertesting@cityofchicago.org Up to $200 in Visa gift cards are provided for participating in this important research.
Lake Michigan is one of our region's greatest natural assets and an ample and consistent supply of source water for City residents. The Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) purifies and delivers almost one billion gallons of safe, clean drinking water daily to Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
When water leaves DWM’s water treatment plants, there is no detectable lead in it. DWM keeps our water clean by:
