Status: 11/17/2021 4:47 a.m.
US President Biden has approved the large-scale infrastructure investment. In Chicago, they are supposed to help ensure that clean water flows through the pipes – and thus save lives.
US President Biden has just signed the infrastructure package. Municipalities, cities and states are urgently waiting for the rain of money from the state coffers to modernize roads, bridges or the rail network. Chicago is also waiting for support. In around 70 percent of all households there are still old lead pipes that poison drinking water and cause permanent damage, especially in children.
Make coffee, brush your teeth or wash a salad – clean drinking water should actually be the order of the day in the USA. But drinking water quality is poor in Chicago and in many other parts of the state of Illinois. Even though the huge freshwater lake, Lake Michigan, is right on the doorstep. The reason: two thirds of all households get their water from lead pipes – with considerable effects on the health of the population.
Lines are exchanged very slowly
“Chicago has more lead lines than any other city in the country, and we’re not doing anything to remove those lead lines,” laments Anna-Lisa Castle of the Alliance for the Great Lakes in Chicago. Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have recognized the problem, but little has happened so far.
A pilot project by the city of Chicago plans to replace the lead pipes in the next 50 years – much too slowly, criticizes Anna-Lisa Castle.
These are two generations of children who may be exposed to lead in drinking water. The pace at which lead pipe is being replaced is unacceptably slow and the estimated cost unacceptably high. Time is running out.
Minorities particularly affected
In Flint, in the neighboring state of Michigan, tens of thousands of people suffered lead poisoning, and the state has just had to pay $ 600 million in damages to those affected. It’s not that far in Chicago, but tap water often has too high a lead content, especially in low-income neighborhoods, says Ann Evans of the nonprofit organization “Elevate in Chicago”.
“The concentration is particularly high in Chicago’s South and West Side. In other words, especially in the black and brown communities.” Elevate conducts water tests and gives free filters and drinking water in plastic bottles to prevent long-term lead damage to children.
Lead is a neurotoxin that damages the brain. For example, children who are lead poisoned have more problems learning to read. They have difficulties with their social behavior. And they are more likely to come into conflict with the police.
15 million US dollars are said to provide a remedy
Environmental injustice and social disadvantage – partly caused by hopelessly outdated infrastructure. In addition, the water in Chicago is not only polluted, it is also very expensive. The US government’s investment package provides for 15 million US dollars – for the improvement of the water infrastructure.
I do think the federal dollars will help replace the lead lines. But I also think the government needs to make this a priority and speed up the process.
A start has been made, says Ann Evans. And hopes that the funds from the federal treasury will flow quickly and unbureaucratically – and will not just be drops in the bucket.