Advocates Call for Immediate Filter Distribution to Protect Vulnerable Families as Pipe Replacement Timeline Likely to Stretch Decades

Springfield, Ill. (June 9, 2025) – A new report released today by the Protect Kids From Lead Coalition (PKFL) reveals the persistent and disproportionate risks many Illinois communities face from lead-contaminated drinking water. The report, “91 Lead Exceedances In Five Years: How Illinois Can Protect Drinking Water Now,” documents lead action level exceedances reported by 72 public water systems statewide since 2020. These spikes in lead levels have exposed thousands of Illinois residents to unsafe drinking water and highlight the urgent need for interim protection as the state works toward full lead service line (LSL) replacement.

Each exceedance, currently defined as lead concentrations exceeding 15 µg/L in more than 10 percent of sampled taps, triggers a requirement for public notification and corrective action under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule. With the federal threshold soon to be lowered to 10 µg/L in 2027, even more communities will soon be required to act.

Illinois is home to an estimated one million LSLs, the highest state number of lead service lines and a key driver of these repeated exceedances. While federal regulations require full LSL replacement by 2037, some communities with high proportions of lead pipes may receive extensions that push replacement timelines even further out. As a result, many families could remain at risk for years to come. While residents can take EPA-recommended steps to reduce potential lead exposure, such as using cold water and regularly cleaning faucet aerators, one proven and effective solution the state can prioritize is distributing water filters.  

The report spotlights the three public water systems (PWS) with the highest number of repeated lead exceedances in recent years, in addition to the four systems that have reported exceedances in 2025. The three public water systems with the highest numbers of exceedances include:

1. Le Roy PWS, McLean County: Six lead action level exceedances
2. Elgin PWS, Kane County: Five lead action level exceedances
3. Lockport PWS, Will County: Five lead action level exceedances

The public water systems that have reported a lead action level exceedance in 2025 include:

1. Le Roy PWS, McLean County
2. Deerfield PWS, Lake County
3. Lincolnwood PWS, Cook County
4. Bartlett PWS, Cook County

PKFL and other advocates are calling on state leaders to fund and implement proactive water filter distribution to protect households with LSLs across Illinois as they wait for replacements.

“Every lead exceedance is a warning sign—an indication that a community’s health may be at risk,” said Wendi Wilkes, director of Protect Kids From Lead Coalition. “This report shows how widespread lead exceedances have been across Illinois in recent years and points to the towns where residents are still facing this issue today. No one should have to wait decades for safe drinking water. Illinois has an opportunity to act now by investing in proactive filter distribution, especially in communities with the highest risk.”

“Filters are an important tool to reduce lead exposure, especially from unpredictable releases of lead that are all too common for lead service lines,” said Tom Neltner, national director of Unleaded Kids, a group focused on reducing lead exposure from all sources, including water. “They also reassure families of Illinois’ commitment to helping children reach their full potential. And they have the added bonus of providing an incentive for families to get their lead service lines replaced when the opportunity arises, so they no longer need to filter their tap water.”

“Consuming any amount of lead is dangerous, especially for children, which is why the state of Illinois must aggressively and sustainably invest in proven exposure reduction strategies, like lead service line replacement and tap water filtration devices,” said Gabby Plotkin, senior policy manager at Illinois Environmental Council. “This report demonstrates what we’ve suspected for a long time, that Illinois families can’t afford to wait any longer for the public health protections our children deserve.”