waterloop #128: Inside Illinois' Lead Legislation (A Pass The Mic Episode)

01/18/22 • -1 min

Illinois is the state with the most lead service lines for drinking water in the country, estimated to be between 700,000 and 1.4 million, with a large number of those found in Chicago. But in 2021, the efforts of a diverse coalition of stakeholders led to passage of landmark legislation that made Illinois one of only two states to require replacement of all lead service lines. An inside look at the Illinois legislation is provided in this Pass The Mic episode, which is guest hosted by Jeremy Orr, an environmental attorney specializing in Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement who previously worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council and now is at Earthjustice. Jeremy talks with Justin Williams of the Metropolitan Planning Council in Chicago about the problem of lead service lines, the disproportionate impact on communities of color, the extensive work it took to pass legislation, and expected benefits for people and the economy.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.

waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at https://www.hydraloop.com

Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thewaterloop

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.

waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at https://www.hydraloop.com

Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thewaterloop

Previous Episode

waterloop #127: A Battleship Lives With Water

Wilmington, North Carolina is home to the USS North Carolina, a retired World War II battleship that is open as a museum that draws over a quarter of a million visitors each year and serves as a memorial to the North Carolinians who died in the war. But now this special piece of American history faces an unlikely challenge - water. That’s because blue sky flooding, made increasingly frequent by sea level rise, is impacting visitor access to the battleship. The path forward is a Living With Water approach that will convert flooded parking lots into wetland, capture stormwater from the remaining parking area, and restore a natural shoreline.

The Battleship North Carolina project is discussed by Captain Terry Bragg, Executive Director of the Battleship North Carolina; Dawn York, Senior Coastal Scientist at Moffatt and Nichol; Jenny Davis, Research Ecologist at NOAA National Ocean Service; and Rami Diaz, Senior Project Designer at Waggonner & Ball.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.

Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thewaterloop

waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at https://www.hydraloop.com

Next Episode

waterloop #129: Toledo's Turnaround From Toxic Algae

In 2014, a toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie forced the shutdown of Toledo’s drinking water system, cutting off the vital service for 400,000 people. In the years since, the City of Toledo responded by forging partnerships to monitor conditions in the lake, investing in upgrades to infrastructure and water treatment, and communicating in a transparent and comprehensive manner with the public. The lessons learned and level of preparedness is discussed in this episode with Patekka Bannister, Commissioner of Operations for the City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities. Patekka also explains how water managers from around the country and world often consult Toledo about how to deal with toxic algae blooms and how the experiences shaped her perspective as a water leader.

Find more content at waterloop.org

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners.

waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at hydraloop.com

Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at patreon.com/thewaterloop