New Lead in Drinking Water Illinois Legislation

Illinois Senate Bill 550 (Public Act 099-0922) amends the Illinois Environmental Protection Act for Lead in drinking water testing, reporting, customer notification and education. While impacting schools, it also has direct applicability to community water system owners and operators effective January 1, 2018.

The law signed by Illinois Governor Rauner on January 17, adds a new section 17.11 titled “Drinking Water Notifications and Inventories”. In summary, this additional section requires owners and operators of community water systems to create a comprehensive lead service line inventory and to submit documentation of the inventory to IEPA. This is so that information on all lead service lines in the state that pose the risk of increased lead exposure in drinking water is collected and made publicly available. Additionally, the law introduces requirements for public notification of nearby water main construction projects that could impact water lines and increase the presence of lead in water. Public notifications must include education to lead service line customers on how to prevent the consumption of lead in drinking water.

Municipalities and owner operators of community water systems can contact Hygieneering for assistance with safe work practices and water testing while inventorying and working on lead service lines. Our EHS professionals can also create educational materials to help protect municipality work force and lead service line customers from lead hazards.

The full IL Public Act can be found here. (Section 17.11 begins on page 20.)

The Public Act addressing testing and reporting of lead in school drinking water can be found here, beginning on page 15.

If you would like to speak to Bob Anderson, CSP & Director of Environmental Assessment Services, Hygieneering's lead in drinking water and construction expert, to further discuss lead water testing or other environmental issues, please contact him at banderson@hygieneering.com or call 630-654-2550.