Amid concerns that an upcoming water main replacement project may release some lead particles into a limited portion of the village’s water lines, the village of Oak Park will provide water filters and pitchers to affected residents.
At its July 8 meeting, the village board unanimously approved the purchase of $30,000 in filters, with a long-term goal of creating a new program for dealing with future water main projects that impact residents.
The project area affects properties along Austin Boulevard between Lake Street and Chicago Avenue, and a small portion of Scoville Avenue north of Roosevelt Road. In total, 17 properties comprised of 191 residential units will be affected, officials said.
Lead exposure is a health risk, particularly for children and pregnant women.
The World Health Organization’s website states, “Young children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead and can suffer profound and permanent adverse health effects, particularly affecting the development of the brain and nervous system. Lead also causes long-term harm in adults, including increased risk of high blood pressure and kidney damage.”
Village staff said affected residents will soon receive letters from the village informing them about the project, some water safety tips and how to pick up their water pitcher filters and two replacement cartridges.
“We believe that would cover the time period where you could see increased lead levels in drinking water,” village manager Cara Pavlicek said.
Oak Park staff said they studied a similar program created in Evanston, where similar filters and pitchers were offered to residents.
The project generated discussion last month when it was approved, which led to village staff coming back with the water filter recommendation.
According to village engineer Bill McKenna, the village will be replacing a cast iron pipe beneath Austin Boulevard with a new cast iron pipe, though most of the residential hookups to the village line will remain lead.
“The physical act of cutting and disturbing the pipe can dislodge lead particles and cause them to go into the water supply for the homeowner,” McKenna said. “The other issue is existing lead pipes have a coating on the inside of them that is developed from minerals put in the drinking water. That coating effectively prevents contact from that drinking water with the existing lead.”
Should a portion of that coating be disturbed, McKenna said a new protective coating could take time to build up again once the project is complete.
“The water is treated in the city of Chicago where they add magnesium to water to create that coating on those lead pipes,” McKenna said. “That would develop over time. The speed on that [replacement] depends on the water usage of that property. It could be highly variable.”
In supporting the program and hoping to calm fears of residents, trustee Dan Moroney said the disturbed portion of the lead lines would be a small portion closest to the village’s main.
“I think it’s important to recognize the intrusion that’s happening to any lead line, it’s a very specific point of contact that’s not shaking the whole line to the home loose,” Moroney said. “I think it’s important to recognize and not create a sense of fear.”
Following the completion of the project, staff is expected to propose a formal program to address future water main projects, updated with information learned on this project, for final board approval. Staff will also include estimated funds for the purchase of water filters for anticipated water projects in future years’ budgets.
Board members also asked if the village could gather water quality numbers prior to and after the main replacement to provide additional data for future use.
“I think it would be wise if we got some before and after data,” trustee Deno Andrews said. “We know what buildings have lead pipes in them and after-the-fact we can see what the issue is moving forward and what the differential is. I think it would be wise, inexpensive and a good investment. I would like to know exactly what we’re mitigating. I’m very comfortable, from a public health perspective, that this is a worthy program to fund.”
While a similar water main replacement project along Clarence Avenue was carried over from 2018, village officials said any leftover water filters could be offered to those residents as well.
![A co-defendant in a Hammond home invasion case may get his plea deal dropped after he failed to show in court from jail Thursday. Garrett Whittenburg, 41, formerly of Chicago, also refused to testify at co-defendant Valentine Torrez’s trial earlier this month. That was required by his agreement, documents show. He also declined to give a deposition in March. He was originally charged with nearly a dozen felonies, including rape and criminal confinement. Deputy Prosecutor Arturo Balcazar asked Judge Natalie Bokota to withdraw his plea. She took it under advisement. The hearing is rescheduled for May 30. Bokota granted a […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Post-Tribune.jpg?w=620 "A co-defendant in a Hammond home invasion case may get his plea deal dropped after he failed to show in court from jail Thursday. Garrett Whittenburg, 41, formerly of Chicago, also refused to testify at co-defendant Valentine Torrez’s trial earlier this month. That was required by his agreement, documents show. He also declined to give a deposition in March. He was originally charged with nearly a dozen felonies, including rape and criminal confinement. Deputy Prosecutor Arturo Balcazar asked Judge Natalie Bokota to withdraw his plea. She took it under advisement. The hearing is rescheduled for May 30. Bokota granted a […]")