I live in East Chicago but wasn’t part of the pilot study. I’m concerned about lead in my drinking water - what should I do?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can reduce or eliminate your exposure to lead in drinking water by using a water filter certified to remove lead for cooking, drinking, and baby formula or by running the kitchen tap on cold for at least 5 minutes before using any tap water for drinking or cooking. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead.

Hot water can contain higher levels of lead, so use only cold water for eating, drinking, and brushing your teeth. Boiling water will not remove lead.

More information can be found at Environmental Protection Agency’s website.

Show All Answers

1. How does lead enter the drinking water?
2. Why did Environmental protection Agency sample drinking water in some homes in East Chicago?
3. Who owns the service lines that carry drinking water from the water main to my home?
4. What did the sampling results show?
5. How long should zone 2 and 3 residents who participated in the pilot use the water filter provided by Environmental Protection Agency?
6. I live in East Chicago but wasn’t part of the pilot study. I’m concerned about lead in my drinking water - what should I do?
7. Is the City of East Chicago in compliance with applicable drinking water standards for lead?
8. Why are there high lead levels if the City of East Chicago is in compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule?
9. Did the Environmental Protection Agency test for other metals?
10. Can water contaminated with lead hurt me or my children?
11. Is it safe for adults to shower or bathe with the water? Can babies be bathed in tap water?
12. Is it safe to wash dishes and do laundry with unfiltered water?
13. The Environmental Protection Agency provided a filter after excavation, but how do I know the filter is working?
14. Will whole house filters or reverse-osmosis filters work better?
15. How can I get my home’s drinking water tested for lead?
16. How can I check my home’s water pipes for lead?
17. Is this related to the USS Lead Superfund Site near my home?