Title
Village of Orland Park Lead Service Replacement Plan
History
The Flint water crisis was a public health crisis that started in 2014 after the drinking water for the city of Flint, Michigan, was contaminated with lead. In April 2014, Flint changed its water source from Lake Huron and the Detroit River to the Flint River. Residents complained about the taste, smell, and appearance of the water. Officials failed to apply corrosion inhibitors to the water, which resulted in lead from aging pipes leaching into the water supply, exposing around one hundred thousand (100,000) residents to elevated lead levels. Between six and twelve thousand (6,000 and 12,000) children were exposed to drinking water with high levels of lead. Children are particularly at risk from the long-term effects of lead poisoning, which can include a reduction in intellectual functioning and IQ, and an increased chance of Alzheimer's disease.
Throughout the nation, because of the Flint water crisis, an extensive lead service pipe replacement effort has been underway since 2016. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in the draft stages of nationwide regulations which states will have to follow.
In Illinois, under Public Act 099-0922, which took effect in 2017, community water suppliers have been required to submit annual service line material inventories to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). To address the known and unknown burden of lead service lines in the state, the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act (LSLRNA) was passed. This Act requires community water suppliers to continue inventorying activities while developing and implementing plans to identify and remove lead service lines. In addition, it requires community water supplies to give owners and occupants notifications about lead service lines serving their homes or buildings and construction activities that may release lead into drinking water. The Act also prohibits partial le...
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