Elgin again issues alert after drinking water samples exceed allowable lead levels during test
Elgin officials are again alerting residents after some drinking water samples exceeded allowable lead levels during a recent test.
The city takes 100 random samples of homes and buildings that are expected to have lead present in their plumbing due to the presence of lead service lines — those built or plumbed before 1988 — every six months as part of its routine water-quality testing. Notifications must be issued if more than 10% of the homes tested exceed a lead concentration of 15 parts per billion.
In the second half of 2025, the tests found that 70 of the 101 samples had lead levels above the action level.
According to the city, the levels are much higher than previous monitoring periods due to changes in the regulation and how a sample is required to be collected and tested. New requirements pull water that has been sitting further out in the home’s lead service line.
In the first half of 2025, the tests found that 48 of the 100 samples had lead levels above the action level.
Lead is not present in Elgin’s source water or its treated drinking water. Officials say the source is likely the service lines leading from the municipal water pipes to residents' homes. Lead can enter the water through the corrosion of lead pipes, solder or fixtures.
Elgin has been replacing the publicly owned portion of a lead water service line (water main to shut-off valve) during capital improvement projects for the past 11 years. For the past five years, the city has been assisting residents in replacing their private portion of the lead water service line when disturbed by city activity.
The city’s Lead Service Line Replacement has replaced approximately 2,790 lead service lines since 2018, with about 890 service lines replaced in 2024.
Last year, 999 lead service lines were replaced. This year, the city plans to replace another 1,000 lead service lines, at an estimated cost of approximately $15,000 per household or business. Similar plans are contemplated for future years.
According to the city’s lead response dashboard, 8,094 of the roughly 34,000 households in the city are served by legacy lead water service pipes. The interactive dashboard shows the real-time progress of water service line replacements and offers a lookup of lead service lines by address.
Free water tests and filters are available for eligible homes via the site, or residents can call the city at 311 (or 847-931-6001 if outside of Elgin).
Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters the body through drinking water or other sources, including lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust or soil. Children 6 and younger and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant impact on a child. Human skin does not absorb lead in water, so bathing and showering offer no risk, even if lead is present.