Chicago lead-pipe replacement would get major boost from Biden plan, officials say

The city of Chicago would potentially get a big boost to replace harmful lead pipes as part of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, the president’s chief environmental officer said Thursday.

The president’s bill plans to spend $ 111 billion on drinking water, sewage and stormwater projects across the country, Biden Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan said at a news conference in Chicago.

Chicago has more lead water pipes than any other US city – it is estimated that at least 400,000 households are connected by lead pipes. Until 1986, the city needed lines for lead. Experts say that no amount of lead is safe in water.

However, replacing these pipes could cost $ 8.5 billion, the city said.

“The city is committed to speeding up lead pipe replacement, which is an important first step,” Regan told reporters outside the Jardine water treatment facility near Navy Pier. “But we have to do better for our communities. We need to find out where the lead pipes are, remove them quickly, and make sure that all of our communities – especially our communities with paint and low-income communities – are protected from lead in drinking water. “

Last fall, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a small project to replace some lines. The mayor said Thursday she was working with limited resources and federal dollars were vital to solving the problem.

“A massive scale that is necessary requires a tremendous amount of funding, and we will continue to work with the federal government as well as the state to ensure we get the resources we need,” said Lightfoot.

The Jardine facility, the world’s largest water treatment facility, would also benefit from Biden’s infrastructure plan with federal dollars for maintenance, Regan said.

Brett Chase’s environmental and public health reporting is made possible by a grant from the Chicago Community Trust.

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