HR0121 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, There is no safe blood lead level identified for children, and even low levels have been shown to affect IQ, the ability to pay attention, and academic achievement; and

WHEREAS, Recent studies have suggested that low-level lead exposure in adults is associated with cardiovascular disease and other health conditions; higher levels exponentially increase that risk; and

WHEREAS, In October 2018, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that more than 7,000 Illinois children had blood lead levels greater than the intervention level recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the State has more than 400,000 lead service lines, with an additional 1.5 million lines that may be leaded; and

WHEREAS, The City of Chicago required the use of lead service lines for pipes up to two inches until Congress banned their use in 1986; in the City of Chicago, there are an estimated 385,000 lead service lines, including unknown materials that are likely to be lead; this is an amount that is three times more than any other city in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Environmental Defense Fund reports that 53 communities in the United States have publicly set a goal to eliminate lead service lines; 36 communities have taken the initial steps toward replacement, and six communities have completed replacement programs; and

WHEREAS, Lead service lines, the lead pipe that connects the main under the street to a home, day care facility, or other building, is the dominant source of lead in drinking water for buildings that have these lines; and

WHEREAS, Lead service lines are commonly found with aging water mains that need to be replaced or repaired, and those activities have been shown to significantly increase lead in drinking water if the lead service line is disturbed and not fully replaced; and

WHEREAS, Such maintenance and repair programs, along with the associated increased risk of lead exposure that results, may disproportionately impact minority and low-income residents, many of whom are already at a greater risk of lead exposure from lead-based paint hazards and contaminated soil; and

WHEREAS, In April of 2016, the American Water Works Association, the professional society for drinking water utilities, stated its support for replacing all lead service lines over time as a broad societal commitment; and

WHEREAS, Any lead service line replacement plan must address lead exposure risk in underserved communities; and

WHEREAS, When making decisions and setting priorities regarding the identification, planning, and implementation of lead service line replacement programs in underserved communities, the input and inclusion of impacted residents and community organizations must be included; and

WHEREAS, Many Illinois residents lack confidence in the safety and quality of their drinking water; and

WHEREAS, The public deserves a concrete plan for the elimination of lead service lines for drinking water; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge every Illinois municipality that utilizes lead service lines to develop a plan to minimize the risk of lead exposure to its residents by developing a plan consisting of short and long-term steps to fully eliminate lead pipes from its drinking water systems; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the process of lead service line replacement presents significant environmental justice concerns, and municipal initiatives must service consumers in an equitable manner without regard to income, race, or ethnicity; and be it further

RESOLVED, That any plan for the removal of lead service lines must prioritize reducing exposure to children and appropriately address the needs of low-income and underserved communities in particular; a plan should also identify and develop opportunities to designate resources for the removal and replacement of lead service lines, including within any capitol improvement plan, relevant grant programs, and any other available funding source.