In Chicago Homes, More Concerns About Lead Levels In Water
(CBS) -- A CBS 2 investigation last week revealed a Chicago family had high lead levels in their water and the city didn't tell them about it for months.
The Berry family received an apology from the Chicago Department Of Water Management, but what about the neighbors in that area?
Are they at risk?
2 Investigator Pam Zekman went back to do some testing of her own.
"In your case, all I can do is apologize myself and on behalf of the department," said Gary Litherland of the Chicago Department Of Water Management, after the agency failed for two months to give the Berry family test results that showed unacceptable levels of lead in their water
"We have neighbors on all sides who are drawing water from the same place." said Mary Berry. "So they should be testing everyone in the street."
CBS 2 used a private lab to test the water of five of the Berry's neighbors, including Judy Lalley's home.
Meanwhile private laboratories are reporting a huge increase from homeowners asking to have their drinking water tested for lead.
Suburban Laboratories in Geneva have gone from five requests in 2014, to 156 so far this year.
"It's primarily due to all the media attention that's been placed on the Flint, Michigan and Chicago water situation," said Suburban Laboratories Jarrett Thomas.
He recommends testing any home built before 1986 "just to rule out lead in the main or the lines or the plumbing fixtures themselves within their homes."
Anything over 15 parts per billion for lead is unacceptable, and testing found 29 parts per billion taken from one faucet that the Lalley home.
"It's really surprising and disturbing," said Lalley. "Way higher than I would have guessed or anticipated."
Lalley now flushes her water for five minutes before drinking it each morning--a method the city says helps reduce the lead in water.
The four other neighbors we tested either had no lead or levels below EPA limits.
The city insists the water supply is safe and that lead could be coming from old plumbing fixtures in homes.
You can get your water tested for free if you call 311.
