Overview

• Reporters mapped the city’s inventory and found the highest concentrations in majority Black and Latino areas, with nine top-burdened community areas on the South Side and Belmont Cragin tenth.
• There is no safe level of lead exposure, and while the treatment plant reports no detectable lead in finished water, corrosion from service lines, fixtures and faucets remains the primary source at the tap.
• Residents can check their address in the public lookup, request free test kits or inspections via 311, use NSF/ANSI Standard 53–certified filters, run water after long stagnation, and clean faucet aerators.
• Chicago offers an equity replacement program, free replacements for licensed daycares in prioritized neighborhoods, and up to $5,000 in permit-fee waivers, with full replacements estimated at $16,000 to $35,000.
• The city’s schedule trails federal expectations for faster removal, and the map reflects data submitted April 14, 2025, which may omit recent replacements and some addresses logged by intersection or shared lines.