Lead Service Line Inventory: ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER

What you should know

ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER serves about 10,000 people in Illinois. Like all public water systems in the US, it is required to create and maintain an inventory of lead service lines—the pipes that carry water from the street main into homes and buildings.

Current inventory status: This system has not yet completed its lead service line inventory. As of now, 0 service lines have been inventoried and made public.

Why this matters

Lead service lines are a real health concern. When water sits in a lead pipe, small amounts of lead can dissolve into your drinking water. Infants, children, and pregnant people are most vulnerable to lead exposure. Even low levels can affect child development.

Not all homes are connected by lead service lines—some have copper, plastic, or other materials. The only way to know for certain what's at your property is to check the utility's inventory or have your water tested.

What the water system should be doing

Federal rules (the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions) require water systems to:

• Complete a full inventory of all service lines and identify which are lead
• Share results publicly
• Develop a plan to replace lead service lines
• Update the public regularly on progress

ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER is still working on its inventory. This is not unusual—many systems are behind schedule, and deadlines have been extended in some cases.

What you can do now

Even without a complete inventory, you don't have to wait to take action:

Get your water tested. A simple, inexpensive test (often free or under $30) will tell you if lead is present in your tap water right now. Contact your water utility to ask about free or discounted testing.

Check your property. If your home was built before 1986, there's a higher chance you have a lead service line. Look at your water bill or contact the utility to ask about your specific address.

Reduce exposure while you wait. If you're concerned, flush your taps before drinking (let water run for 30 seconds to several minutes), use cold water for cooking and drinking, and consider a point-of-use filter certified to remove lead.

Next steps for residents

• Contact ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER's water department to ask about your property's service line material and request information about their inventory timeline
• Request free or low-cost water testing from your utility
• If you have young children or are pregnant, discuss water safety with your pediatrician or doctor
• Check back on this page periodically—inventory information updates as systems complete their work

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```json [ { "q": "Does ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER have lead in the water?", "a": "The system has not yet published its lead service line inventory, so the full picture is unknown. The best way to find out if lead is in your tap water is to request a free or low-cost test from the water utility." }, { "q": "When will the inventory be finished?", "a": "That information has not been publicly released yet. Contact ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER's water department directly to ask about their timeline for completing and publishing the inventory." }, { "q": "How do I know if I have a lead service line?", "a": "Call your water utility and ask about the service line at your address, or check your water bill for inventory information. If your home was built before 1986, the risk is higher. A plumber can also visually inspect the line entering your home." }, { "q": "Is lead in drinking water dangerous?", "a": "Lead exposure is a real health concern, especially for children and pregnant people. For health questions or concerns, talk to your pediatrician or contact the CDC. In the meantime, you can reduce exposure by flushing your tap and using cold water for cooking and drinking." } ]