FAQs

Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. While it has some beneficial uses, like its pliability and resistance to leaks which were useful in plumbing, it can be toxic to humans and animals. Lead can also be found in paint, dust, soil, drinking water, and consumer products. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates up to 20% or more of a person’s total exposure to lead comes from drinking water. Formula fed infants can receive 40 percent to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.

Lead is harmful to human health even at low exposure levels. Babies and young children are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead at low levels. There is no safe exposure to lead, especially for children. While everyone can be affected by lead, children under 6 and pregnant women are most vulnerable. Lead affects the health of children, pregnant women, and adults differently. For more information about the health effects of lead in drinking water, visit epa.gov.

Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode or wear away. This chemical reaction depends on the water’s chemistry. Lead enters drinking water through your home’s plumbing. Water service lines are pipes that connect homes to the Village’s water main. In homes with lead service lines, the most common exposure to lead in water is those pipes. In homes without lead service lines, the most common exposure to lead is with chrome-plated brass faucets and plumbing with lead solder.

Yes, the Village of Wilmette performs regular testing for lead throughout the distribution system, as required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The results are posted within the Village’s Annual Water Quality report. You can review the Village of Wilmette’s Annual Water Quality Reports at wilmette.gov.
The Village performs testing at 30 sites with lead service lines every three years. Results from the last round of testing are below. Wilmette is in full compliance with the IEPA and USEPA.

Lead Levels Data

	Date Sampled	Action Level (ppb)	90th Percentile (ppb)	# of Sites over Action Level
Lead	2020	15	5	0

However, the Village does not offer testing at individual homes. If you want to test your water, IEPA maintains a list of Certified Labs for Analysis of Lead in Drinking Water, which can be found at epa.illinois.gov.

Lead can be harmful even at very low levels and can accumulate in our bodies over time. No exposure to lead is considered “safe.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established a blood lead “reference value” of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter, equivalent to 35 parts per billion – the same concentration as a golf ball in a swimming pool. This value represents the top 2.5% of children under 5 with the highest blood lead levels. For more information, visit the CDC at cdc.gov.

The EPA has created a lead action level of 15 parts per billion, which is the same concentration as one ounce in an Olympic swimming pool. All water systems must publish annual drinking water quality reports; find your local Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) at Consumer Confidence Reports or you can visit the Village’s website to see the Village’s Annual Water Quality Reports from past years: wilmette.gov.

The Village of Wilmette is required by the State of Illinois to routinely monitor for lead which has not, and is not, currently found within the drinking water supply. The Village treats its drinking water at the Carbon P. Dubbs Treatment Plant. To prevent lead from dissolving into water from lead service lines or home plumbing, the Village of Wilmette adds a very small amount of phosphate, a mineral found in many foods, to prevent lead from leaching into water, a process known as corrosion control. Although corrosion control can reduce the risk of exposure to lead, the best way to assure your home is safe from lead exposure through water is to remove the potential sources of lead.

Starting in 1988, the Safe Drinking Water Act prohibited the use of lead in pipes or connecting fixtures, like flux or solder, in public water systems and indoor plumbing. Lead service lines are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1988. In Illinois, the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (LSLRNA) went into effect January of 2022. The LSLRNA requires all communities to identify and replace all lead service lines by 2042. The Village is committed to meeting the requirements of the LSLRNA and currently is in process of completing their water service line material inventory. If you have determined your service line material, please contact the Public Works Department at 847-853-7500 from 7:00AM to 3:00PM, Monday – Friday or by filling out the Service Line Inventory Survey.

To see the current status of Wilmette’s inventory, click here.

No. Lead in drinking water generally represents only about 20% of total exposure, according to the CDC. The most common exposure to lead is swallowing and breathing in lead paint chips and dust. However, drinking water can account for more than half of lead exposure in children. Additionally, since no level of lead is considered safe, eliminating potential sources of lead is recommended.

You may be able to determine on your own if your service line is made of lead. Service lines typically enter the home in the basement or crawl space. If the pipe is lead, it will have a dull finish that shines brightly when scratched with a key or coin. Using a magnet can also help you identify a lead pipe, because even a strong magnet will not cling to lead. If you have determined your service line material, please fill out the Service Line Inventory Survey.

Starting in 1988, the Safe Drinking Water Act prohibited the use of any lead pipe, flux, or solder in public water systems or indoor plumbing up to a certain percentage. At the time, the “lead-free” was defined as solder and flux with no more than 0.2% lead and plumbing products (pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures) with no more than 8%. As of 2014, lead-free plumbing products must contain less than 0.25% lead. Therefore, older fixtures, like faucets and aerators, could leach lead into your water.

The best way to reduce lead exposure from your drinking water is to remove all sources of lead. But there are also steps you can take right away to reduce lead levels in your water.

1. Filter the Water – Many home water filters are effective at removing lead. If you purchase a filter, make sure it is certified to NSF/ANSI 53 and NSF/ANSI 42 for lead reduction and that you maintain it properly. Find out more on filter certification at nsf.org.
2. Run the Tap Before Use – Lead levels are likely at their highest when water has been sitting in a lead pipe for several hours. Clear this water from your pipes by running the cold water for 3-5 minutes before using. This allows you to draw fresh water from the Village’s water main. In efforts to conserve water, you can use this water on house plants or to flush toilets.
3. Use Cold Water for Cooking and Drinking – Always cook and prepare baby formula with cold water, because hot water dissolves lead more quickly, resulting in higher levels in water.
4. Clean Aerators – Aerators are small attachments at the tips of faucets which regulate the flow of water. They can accumulate small particles of lead in their screens. It is a good idea to remove your aerators at least monthly and clean them out.

Households with pregnant women, infants, or young children should be especially aware of the potential for lead exposure through drinking water.

If you suspect there may be lead in your home plumbing, consider having your water tested. The Village regularly tests for lead in the drinking water at a selected number of service locations. If lead is detected, consider purchasing a filter certified for lead removal or using an alternate source of water until the problem is corrected. Babies and young children are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead at low levels.

No. If you purchase a water filter or home treatment device, make sure it is independently certified for lead removal and that you maintain it properly. Find out more on filter certification at nsf.org.

Lead can impact animals the same way it does humans. The best way to protect people and pets from lead is to remove all sources of lead in your home.

Lead is not absorbed through the skin, therefore bathing or showering in water containing lead is not considered a health risk.

Starting in 1988, the Safe Drinking Water Act prohibited the use of any lead pipe, flux, or solder in public water systems or indoor plumbing. Lead service lines are more likely to be found in older cities and homes built before 1988. The Village is entering the second phase of the water service line inventory and conducting in-home visits. If you have any questions, contact the Engineering and Public Works Department at 847-853-7500 from 7:00AM to 3:00PM, Monday – Friday.

In the Village of Wilmette, lead service lines are owned by the Village from the main up to the B-Box. The remainder of the water service, from the B-Box into the building, is owned and maintained by the property owner. Replacing the entire lead service line is therefore a shared responsibility between the Village and each property owner.

The Village has implemented an outreach program and will notify consumers with known or suspected lead service lines and begin targeted outreach to encourage participation in the lead service line inventory. The Village is developing a Lead Service Line Replacement Plan. The draft plan can be found here. This plan will be presented to the Municipal Services Committee for discussion, then to the Village Board for approval prior to the implementation deadline of April 15, 2027.

Considering a water service upgrade or replacement? Review this Lead Replacement Policy first.

• For information on lead in drinking water and steps you can take to minimize exposure, call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or visit epa.gov/safewater/lead.
• For more information regarding sources of lead and health effects of lead exposure, visit the CDC at cdc.gov/nceh/lead.
• For local water quality information, visit the Village of Wilmette’s Annual Water Quality Report posted at wilmette.gov. If you would like to discuss the issue with a local contact, call the Public Works Department at 847-853-7500 from 7:00AM to 3:00PM, Monday – Friday.