Frequently Asked Questions
Exposure to high lead levels can severely impair mental function and damage every organ and system in your body. Pregnant/nursing women and children under the age of six are most vulnerable to these bodily impacts. Additional information about impacts from lead water drinking lines can be found on the Centers for Disease Control Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention page.
The primary cause of lead entering drinking water in homes comes from corrosion of household plumbing materials. Water does not become contaminated with lead at the water treatment plant. To learn more, please review the resources listed below.
Understanding Lead and Your Drinking Water Brochure (City of Evanston)
Lead in Drinking Water (National Sanitation Foundation International)
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), homes built before 1986 are more likely to have plumbing materials that can contaminate household drinking water with lead. While not applicable in all cases, it is generally known that homes constructed prior to 1960 were built with all lead pipes, homes constructed between 1960 and 1986 were built with a combination of copper, lead, and lead solder and homes constructed after 1986 used all copper materials. From 1986 to 2014, plumbing fixtures (e.g. faucets, shower heads) could contain up to 8% lead and be categorized as “Lead free." Current standards for “Lead free” fixtures allow no more than 0.25% of lead content
Water service lines are the pipes that carry water from the City water main into homes and buildings. The City owns the service line from the water main in the street to the parkway valve whereas property owners own the service line from the parkway valve to the meter inside the home.
The City continues to replace service lines on blocks throughout Evanston with copper pipe. If you suspect you have a lead service line or lead in your home plumbing, you can check the Map by entering your home address or water billing account and/or purchase an EPA-approved lead test kit.
A visual inspection of the service pipe can also be done with the methods shown below.
If you are unsure if lead is in your drinking water, the City of Evanston recommends you have your water tested. Testing generally costs between $20 and $100 and can be done at a laboratory. A list of laboratories can be found in the linked document below. Please note that lead cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted so we recommend getting your water tested if you are unsure.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) requires municipalities to update their service line material inventories annually as well as any disturbance notifications. Information on Lead Service Materials Inventory requirements by law can be found in PA 99-0922 Section 17.11. Please visit IEPA’s Lead Service Line Information page for more information and resources.
The most up-to-date resources regarding the City of Evanston’s testing results can be found below and will be updated in accordance to the State of Illinois Law.
City of Evanston’s 2021 Water Treatment Facility Administration Material Inventory
City of Evanston’s Water Quality Data Historical Lead Sampling Results
The City of Evanston has a breadth of projects that seek to mitigate lead in drinking water including the Pilot Project LSLR, Annual Water Main Project LSLR, and HomeOwner Initiated LSLR. To learn more about these projects, please visit the City of Evanston’s Projects page.
The City of Evanston is currently performing a corrosion control optimization study at our water treatment plant. The City of Evanston has complied with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) issued by the EPA since 1991. This rule requires utilities at risk for lead and copper in the water to add an approved chemical to control lead and copper levels in drinking water. The Evanston Water Treatment Facility adds blended phosphate during the treatment process which deposits a thin layer of phosphate inside of pipes to prevent the drinking water from directly touching the metal. Samples of test water are taken from faucets in homes and businesses to ensure that drinking water is in compliance with safety regulations for consumers. Evanston’s water has been in compliance in the 90th percentile since November 1992. More information on the Lead and Copper Rule can be found on the Projects page.
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) recommends post-construction water testing following full and private-side lead service pipe replacements to determine if appreciable lead is still present in the drinking water. Testing is a sure way to determine if the lead is still present inside of home plumbing. Testing generally costs between $20 and $100 and can be done at a laboratory. A list of laboratories can be found here.
The City will provide testing only for the Annual Water Main Replacement Project and Lead Service Line Replacement Pilot Project and it will be provided approximately 3 months after the lead service line is replaced.
Lead levels may be elevated in weeks, months, or years following a water meter replacement. In accordance with Illinois public Act 099-0922 and requirements established by IEPA, all Community Water Systems across the state, including Evanston, are required to provide information any time there is water service disruption to a property served by a lead pipe.
The following recommendations will reduce exposure to lead in drinking water:
· Use cold water for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula (hotter water is more likely to leach metal from pipes and fittings).
· Residents should flush pipes until water is at maximum cold temperature if water has not been used for several hours (two minutes or longer). This will provide residents fresh water that has not been sitting in household pipes or service lines for long periods of time. Please note that all houses are different. If heavy water use has been recent, such as showering or laundry, this should take 5 to 30 seconds.
· Participate in the City of Evanston’s Lead Service Line Replacement Projects!
If you have access to treated tap water provided by the City of Evanston this is not necessary. The City of Evanston’s water is sourced from Lake Michigan which undergoes treatment overseen by highly qualified water plant operators and laboratory personnel. Tap water is highly regulated and is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than bottled water.
POU filters are used to remove impurities from drinking water. These filters can be attached directly to water faucets, inserted into refrigerators for water dispensers and ice makers, or inserted into water pitchers and bottles.
Due to concerns following both private-side and full lead service replacements, it is recommended to use a POU filter (that has been certified for lead reduction capabilities) until the water is retested for analysis and determined to be lead-free.
POU filters work as a barrier to prevent harmful pathogens from entering your drinking water. POU filters should be maintained and replaced according to manufacturer recommendations to ensure effectiveness and safety.
The following home point of use (POU) filters are NSF Standard 42 & 53 certified to reduce lead:
ZeroWater
ClearlyFiltered
Aquasana
Brita
Please refer to the following flushing instructions here.