|
Mayor Brandon Johnson and U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth,
D-Schaumburg, and Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, announced that
$336 million has been granted to the city to help cover the
costs of replacing lead pipes that carry residents' drinking
water.
The announcement came in Chicago as construction began to remove
the most lead pipes in a single city in the entire nation.
Johnson said Chicagoans deserve clean water.
"My administration is committed to ensuring that all Chicagoans
can safely and affordably access this essential resource,"
Johnson said. "This is why my administration is working hard to
and certainly are excited to replace all remaining lead service
lines in Chicago."
The taxpayer funding comes from President Joe Biden and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency in the form of a loan.
"Water is life, and my administration is committed to ensuring
that all Chicagoans can safely and affordably access this
essential resource," Johnson said. "Today's award from the U.S.
EPA is a huge boost to that effort."
Durbin said having clean water to drink should not be an issue.
"Every family should have the confidence and the belief in their
mind that they can drink right from the tap safely," Durbin
said. "That used to be something most of us grew up with and
didn't think twice about."
The dangers of lead in the water can lead to irreversible damage
such as internal organ failure and blood disease. The city
expects the total project to cost nearly $9 billion.
|
|
