LeadCare Cook County Marks 100th Lead Service Line Replacement, Protecting Drinking Water for Children in Suburban Cook County

(Cook County, IL) — The LeadCare Cook County program recently celebrated a major milestone, completing its 100th lead service line replacement, furthering efforts to ensure safer drinking water for children in suburban Cook County. LeadCare Cook County offers free lead service line replacement to suburban child care providers, targeting the reduction of lead in water at facilities serving young children. Lead exposure poses serious health risks to all individuals, but infants and children under 6 years old are especially vulnerable. Where present, lead service lines are often the largest source of lead contamination in drinking water. Throughout its duration, the program aims to replace over 460 lead service lines at child care facilities.

"The 100th lead service line replacement is more than just a milestone—it's a testament to Cook County’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of our children,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Every child deserves access to clean, safe drinking water. Through programs like LeadCare Cook County, we’re ensuring that our youngest residents, especially in historically disinvested communities, are protected from the dangers of lead exposure. This is just the beginning as we expand our efforts to reach even more child care providers across the County. In total, 926 children have directly benefited from the 100 service line replacements completed so far, and we have plans to help thousands more.”

In a significant expansion, the County is now broadening eligibility for the program to include child care providers who are exempt from licensure and care for up to three children, including family, friends, and neighbors. This expansion underscores Cook County’s commitment to investing in the health and safety of all children, ensuring even the most informal care settings are able to benefit from the program.

"We are thrilled to expand the reach of LeadCare Cook County to provide even more children with safer drinking water through the support of their trusted child care providers,” said Bethany Olson, the Program Manager of LeadCare Cook County. “Whether they’re caring for a relative or supporting a neighbor’s child, these informal child care providers play a critical role in our communities. By making this program more accessible to them, we’re helping ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and thrive in an environment free from lead exposure."

LeadCare Cook County is part of a broader $15 million transformational investment in lead service line replacement initiatives, led by the County’s Bureau of Economic Development. This investment helps foster an equitable recovery from the pandemic while improving public and environmental health across the County. The program prioritizes historically underserved communities, including Black, Latine and low-income communities, in addressing the pervasive threat of lead contamination. LeadCare Cook County is administered in partnership with Elevate, a nonprofit with extensive experience in serving child care providers throughout Illinois.

Providers can learn more about the program and enroll by visiting www.LeadCareCookCounty.org or calling 773-389-5657. Support is available in English and Spanish. 

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About Cook County & Project Rainbow 

Cook County is the second largest county in the United States, representing 5.2 million residents in Illinois. The President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cook County and oversees the Offices Under the President, including the Bureau of Economic Development (BED). LeadCare Cook County is also being supported by Cook County’s Project Rainbow initiative, which aims to inform, inspire, and impact children, students, and families across the County. For more information on all Project Rainbow initiatives, please visit projectrainbow.cookcountyil.gov. 

About Elevate 

Since 2017, Elevate has partnered with Illinois child care providers to reduce lead in drinking water. A nonprofit organization in Chicago, Elevate seeks to create a just and equitable world where everyone has clean and affordable heat, power, and water in their homes and communities. Learn more about Elevate at www.elevatenp.org.