In the picturesque village of Bannockburn is the home of Kimberly Barkemeyer, which was built in the 1930s as a social hall and was later transformed into a private residence.
“I pretty much grew up in this town,” she said. “This is the fourth house I’ve lived in here. My parents bought this house in 1982, and in 1996 when my mother wanted to move to Florida, she asked if we wanted to buy it.”
Despite its charm, the home is one of thousands of houses across Lake County with a hidden problem — lead water lines.
While Lake County Public Works’ water system is almost entirely lead-free, there are more than 9,800 reported lead service lines in the county, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Catherine Game is executive director of the Brushwood Center, an environmental justice and health equity nonprofit. Last year, Game said the group released a report on Lake County looking at the intersection of environmental health and social determinants of health. Communities have been impacted by a “kind of legacy of pollution and lead pipes,” she said.
“Lake County has amazing natural areas, so much beautiful open space, but there’s a disproportionate impact of pollution and of environmental injustice,” Game said.
The Chicago area has an infamous history with lead. With more than 1 million lead pipes, Illinois has more per capita than any other state, and ranks second only to Florida in total number of them. That lead can have detrimental effects on people, Game said.
Lead causes damage to the brain and nervous system, slow growth and development for children, learning and behavioral problems, and impacts vital organs of the body. Even showering or bathing can cause skin issues, Game said.
“It’s a known toxin,” she said. “It’s persistent. It bioaccumulates in your body over time. That’s why it’s particularly dangerous for young children and infants, and people who are pregnant, because lower exposures can have a higher impact on smaller bodies.”
Chakena Perry, a senior policy advocate at the environmental advocacy organization Natural Resources Defense Council, works to help Illinois residents get safer drinking water. That includes identifying funding sources to replace lead pipes.
Earlier this year, the federal government dedicated $15 billion in funding for lead pipe replacement, while requiring all lead pipes to be replaced within 10 years. Perry said municipalities can apply to the IEPA for those federal funds to replace their own lead lines.
Waukegan and Fox Lake are already moving to remove lead pipes carrying water to about 9,000 homes, receiving a $3.9 million interest-free loan from the IEPA.
While Barkemeyer expressed frustration with her village for not applying for assistance to have the lead lines removed, she recognizes she is in a more fortunate position than others. Her concerns were more about the resale value of the house than health. Previous blood tests had come back clean, she said, despite the lead water lines.
Lead pipes build up a sediment coating that stops the metal from leaching into the water, and as long as it isn’t disturbed, the water will be safe. However, as Game explained, any disturbances, such as construction or even running hot water, can cause sediment to release and increase the risk of exposure.
Residents unsure of what type of water line their house uses have a few ways to find out, Game said. If they have physical access to the pipe, they can do a simple test with a coin and magnet. If the mark made by scratching the pipe is shiny and silver and the metal isn’t magnetic, the line is likely lead, she said.
Otherwise, they can reach out to their municipal government, which should have an inventory of all lead water lines.
Game said lead lines are especially a concern for young children and pregnant women. If a house does have lead lines, residents can take tests of different water faucets for lead, Game said. Additionally, they can invest in the installation of a water filter certified to remove lead.
“When you have lead pipes, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting high lead contamination in your water on a regular basis, but it’s something you want to address,” she said.
