Is Chicago The Next Flint?
According to a Chicago Tribune Analysis, almost 70% of the homes across the city are contaminated with the toxic lead since early January of 2016. The contaminant has been found leaking in tap water with dangerous concentrations of higher than five parts per billion (ppb) in three of every ten households in the city of Chicago.
The Federal Action Level for lead is 15 ppb, while its safe EPA level is 0. The brain-damaging contaminant in Chicago is fast becoming more alarming than the lead water line problem in Flint.
The highest lead level in Chicago is a whopping 120 ppb. If you compare it to the highest lead level of 100ppb in Flint, it gives you that it will be worst in the coming years. Could it be the end for Chicago’s children? Is the city the next Flint in the making?
Lead and Its Health Effects on Chicago’s Children
Lead is known to cause serious health problems to children and adults exposed to the heavy metal for some time.
The contaminant affects the different systems of the human body. Although lead is needed by the human body, particularly the liver, kidney, bones, and the brain, through the teeth and bones, long-term exposure to the drinking water contaminant will increase the measurement of lead in blood.
Since the rise of lead water line contamination in Chicago, 17.2% of the homes in the city are found to have lead levels exceeding the federal standard. In addition, there are no tests done on the affected children in Chicago.
Exposure to lead is dangerous to children. Children who are exposed to high levels of lead in tap water may experience convulsions, coma, and death.
How Does Lead Get Into Your Drinking Water
Lead is among the more popular contaminant found in your drinking water because of the pipeline system in Chicago. The contaminant is found in the pipeline system from the lead gooseneck pipe to the faucet in your home.
Lead gets into your drinking water either through corrosion of household plumbing systems or the erosion of natural deposits.
When left unclean for some time, faucet screens can contribute to the presence of the pollutant in your drinking water. Since old plumbing systems are prone to corrosion, they require regular inspection and maintenance.
How to Keep Your Loved Ones Safe
There are several ways to keep your family safe from the dangers of lead-contaminated drinking water. Since 70% of the homes in the city of Chicago are experiencing lead-contaminated water issues, you should run a complete water test to find out if your feed water is polluted.
From there, the next best approach is to install a water filtration system like AquaOx so you can have peace of mind.
The certified water filtration system is highly effective in removing lead and other contaminants right at your home’s point of entry so they can’t get into your loved ones’ drinking water.
Regular maintenance of your faucet’s screen as well as the practice of flushing your pipes before using the water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and cleaning will help keep the contaminants under control.
Infographic resources:
https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/what-about-lead.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_water_crisis
To be protected from the next water crisis, checkout our whole house water filters.
