The Village of Wilmette would like to assure its customers that a lead/corrosion control program has been in place for over 25 years.
The Village feeds a small amount of phosphate to the treated water to help coat these lead pipes. The coating reduces the lead leaching into the drinking water to levels below the USEPA limits. Phosphate is a mineral found in many foods. This program incorporates applying the EPA recommended corrosion control treatment at the Village’s water treatment plant, and periodic rounds of sampling and testing of lead levels in drinking water at approved homes by Illinois EPA (IEPA) to measure the treatment effectiveness. The Village has maintained compliance with this regulation since its inception. The Village conducts triennial sampling and testing for lead in households throughout the Village. The Village regularly tests consumers’ taps for lead and is in full compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule. As of 2020, Wilmette was well below the EPA lead action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), shown below.
| Date Sampled | Action Level (parts per billion) | 90th Percentile (parts per billion) | # of Sites over Action Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | 2020 | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Lead | 2017 | 15 | 6.4 | 0 |
| Lead | 2014 | 15 | 5.2 | 1 |
| Lead | 2011 | 15 | 6.63 | 0 |
| Lead | 2008 | 15 | 5.99 | 0 |
| Lead | 2005 | 15 | 8.9 | 2 |
Testing For Lead
The Wilmette water plant laboratory is not certified to analyze for metals. If you are concerned about lead in your water, contact your local county health department for more resources on water testing. Visit the Cook County Department of Public Health website at cookcountypublichealth.org/environmental-health/lead-poisoning or call 708-836-8600.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has a list of accredited labs here: epa.illinois.gov/topics/labs/lab-accreditation/accredited-labs.html. Instructions for testing your water vary by lab. Tests cost between $15 and $100, according to USEPA.
You also can find contact information for testing your water for lead by calling EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or by visiting Illinois EPA’s website at Lead (illinois.gov).