If the City of Chicago is going to replace the 400,000 lead pipes that bring water to our homes during our lifetime, it has to make drastic improvements.

The process of getting the lead service line replaced at my mother’s house was arduous to say the least. After applying for the city’s Equity Lead Service Line Replacement Program, she dealt with over a year of waiting, submitting documents, going downtown, and resending documents. Finally this June, after months of waiting for crews to show up with little notice, my mom was able to have her lead service line replaced.

While the union plumbers were truly kind and professional, our city officials who oversee this process need to make it much more efficient and equitable. Our communities deserve a solution to this health crisis.

That means that Chicago must adopt more cost-effective and efficient methods of replacement. Rather than replacing pipes on a house-by-house basis, a block-by-block, pull-through approach done in places like Newark, NJ and Benton Harbor, MI would be far more advantageous. This approach allows us to optimize our limited budget to replace a greater number of lead service lines, ensuring progress across the entire city. Failing to find an efficient method will only prolong the process, resulting in another generation being exposed to the dangers of lead poisoning.

We cannot afford to delay the resolution of this health crisis any longer. The consequences of even a small amount of lead exposure are severe, impacting the lives of countless individuals. The potent neurotoxin is especially harmful to babies and young children and can cause irreversible harm to their developing brains and nervous systems. There is no safe level of lead.

I can’t help but think of my son and other children his age who are left to drink contaminated water coming from our taps. In addition, my neighborhood on the Southeast Side of Chicago is already overburdened by other environmental hazards.

The solution is easy - get the lead pipes out now. Our priority should be the immediate replacement of these toxic pipes that are wreaking havoc on our brains and bodies.

Waiting another 50 years to complete the replacements is simply unacceptable.

To successfully tackle this issue, we must redirect our energy towards advocating for funding from federal and state governments. Relying solely on the city's budget will deplete resources rapidly, hindering progress. By actively seeking financial assistance, we can accelerate the lead pipe replacement efforts and protect our communities sooner rather than later. This crisis demands urgent attention, and we must rally together to secure the necessary support.

The city's leadership plays a pivotal role in ensuring equitable, efficient and comprehensive replacement of lead pipes. It is crucial that they prioritize this issue, leveraging the available resources and expertise to get the job done.

Illinois will receive 230 million dollars this year in federal funding to do the work and while it won’t be enough to do it all, it’s enough to get the process moving more quickly than it has to date. We possess the necessary resources and union workforce to rapidly accelerate the pace of this work; what we need is the city's commitment to doing things the right way.

Chicago stands at a crossroads, faced with a pressing health crisis caused by lead pipes. The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated.

It is our responsibility to advocate for additional financial support from federal and state governments. The time to act is now, not 50 years from now. Let us unite and demand efficient and immediate action from our city's leadership to ensure a safer, healthier future for all.