Lead is a common toxic metal that can enter your drinking water through pipes and plumbing materials made of lead. Elevate works to identify lead in water and mitigate sources of lead when found.
While lead exposure has health implications for all people, the effects are especially concerning among infants and children under age six. Many of our services are targeted to child care providers to take appropriate action and protect the children in these homes.
Lead in Water Testing
Testing your water is the only sure way to determine whether lead is present.
Elevate administers LeadCare Illinois, a statewide program that helps child care facilities and schools identify and address lead in drinking water through free testing, education, and mitigation support. Participating facilities receive a free lead-in-water testing kit delivered by mail to assess their water quality. If lead is detected, Elevate provides guidance on effective mitigation strategies to reduce exposure, and eligible facilities may receive reimbursement support for approved mitigation activities.
Elevate administers LeadCare Illinois in partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Lead Service Line Replacement
A water service line is the pipe that delivers water to your home from the water main in the street. If it’s made of lead or galvanized material, the service line can unpredictably release toxic lead particles into the water as it travels to your home. Illinois has approximately 700,000 known lead service lines, one of the highest quantities in the country.
Learn how to determine if your home is connected to a lead service line in our blog, “Lead Service Lines 101.”
Elevate administers LeadCare Cook County, a program providing free lead service line replacement (LSLR) to child care facilities and schools throughout suburban Cook County. By prioritizing LSLR in settings where children spend significant time, the program helps reduce lead exposure among the County’s most vulnerable residents while supporting compliance with state requirements to prioritize high-risk facilities for replacement.
To date, LeadCare Cook County has completed more than 300 lead service line replacements, helping provide safer drinking water for more than 3,000 children. The program is administered by nonprofit Elevate in partnership with the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Although LeadCare Cook County is no longer accepting new enrollments, child care providers and schools may be eligible for reimbursement support for lead service line replacement through LeadCare Illinois. Elevate will also launch a new lead service line replacement initiative for Chicago-based child care providers in Fall 2026.
Plumbing Upgrades to Address Lead
Common sources of lead in water include lead pipes, faucets, and fixtures, as well as galvanized pipes, brass or chrome-plated fixtures containing lead, and lead solder connecting copper piping. A plumbing assessment can identify sources of lead and point to strategies for mitigation.
From 2022 to 2025 Elevate administered LeadCare Complete, which helped support a safe and healthy learning environment for licensed Chicago child care providers by providing free plumbing upgrades to reduce lead in drinking water. The program worked with more than 200 child care providers to ensure safer drinking water by replacing faucets, water fountains, and other plumbing components. Now more than 2,529 children have access to safer water because of this transformative program. LeadCare Complete was made possible through a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant and support from the City of Chicago.
Technical Assistance
Elevate administers Cook County TAP which offers free technical assistance to help municipalities develop lead service line replacement programs and implement water affordability strategies. Through educational resources, webinars, training sessions, funding guidance, and other support services, the program equips local governments with the tools they need to create effective, equitable initiatives that reduce lead exposure in drinking water and help lower water costs for residents.
Cook County TAP is administered by Elevate in partnership with Cook County Government and is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Lead in Water Research
Tapping into Success: Strategies for Effective Lead Service Line Replacement Communications
Tapping into Success shares lessons from municipalities, residents, and stakeholders on effective communication for lead service line replacement programs. The report highlights what works, what doesn’t, and key considerations to help communities replace lead service lines safely, efficiently, and with strong public engagement.
Leveraging Lead Service Line Replacement for Workforce Inclusion and Growth
Elevate and partners explored how lead service line replacement can advance public health while creating inclusive workforce opportunities. This report outlines strategies to accelerate replacement in impacted communities, expand local hiring, and support small water systems across Illinois and beyond.
How States Are Handling Lead in School Drinking Water
Elevate and the National Association of Boards of Education (NASBE) analyzed state efforts to test for lead in school drinking water, highlighting program approaches, challenges, best practices, and support available to help schools protect children’s health.
A Lead Free Future: Research and Recommendations for Protecting Children from Lead in Water
Developed by Elevate and Illinois Action for Children, A Lead Free Future shares child care providers’ experiences with lead-in-water testing and mitigation and offers recommendations to strengthen policies and programs that protect children’s drinking water.