WHEREAS, It was recently found by the City that several homes that installed water meters and tested for lead had lead levels above the federal standard of 15 parts-per-billion; and
WHEREAS, The sampling of homes that installed water meters and that have an elevated lead level suggests that more Chicago homes could have water tainted with lead levels above federal standards; and
WHEREAS, Studies suggest that lead is a neurotoxin and can be especially damaging to young children and pregnant women. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree that there is no known safe level of lead in a child's blood; and
WHEREAS, When more than 10 percent of tap water samples exceed the lead action level of 15 parts per billion, the EPA requires water agencies to take action to reduce lead in drinking water; and
WHEREAS, On April, 12, 2018, the Chicago Tribune reported that lead was found in water drawn from the majority of homes that city officials tested in the past two years; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this seventh day of November, 2018, do hereby direct the City's Commissioner of Health and the City's Commissioner of Water Management to be present at a hearing before the City Council Committee on Health and Environmental Protection to address the issue of lead in drinking water in Chicago; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the members of the State of Illinois Senate Environment and Conservation Committee's Subcommittee on Water and Related Issues are hereby invited to jointly participate at this hearing; and
Alderman, 19th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copy of this resolution be delivered to the Commissioner of Health, the Commissioner of Water Management, and the members of the State of Illinois Senate Environment and Conservation Committee's Subcommittee on Water "arldrRelated Issues.
