Local Zip Codes on List for High-Risk Levels of Lead in Tap Water

By Zachary Daum

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The Illinois Department of Public Health recently released a list for high-risk zip codes in Illinois at risk for pediatric lead poisoning. The high-risk ZIP codes in St. Clair County include: 62059, 62201, 62202, 62203, 62204, 62205, 62206, 62207, 62220, 62223, 62226, 62232, 62239, 62240, 62243, 62255, 62257, 62258, 62264, 62282, 62289.

There are 21 ZIP codes under lead warnings, while 14 ZIP codes, including 62269, 62234, 62221, and others, are not under such warnings.

Mascoutah was on the list for high-risk pediatric lead poisoning, while Lebanon was not. In Clinton County, New Baden’s zip code, 62265 was also on the list for high-risk areas of pediatric lead poisoning.

St. Clair County has identified several high-risk ZIP codes for lead exposure, necessitating rigorous testing and public health interventions. Children in these areas must be tested for lead at 12, 24, and 36 months, with additional assessments required for those aged six and under. Blood tests indicating lead levels over five micrograms per deciliter trigger a public health intervention, including home inspections and visits from public health nurses.

Mascoutah City Manager Cody Hawkins spoke on the topic in regards to Mascoutah, clarifying that the lead detected in water samples is not coming from the municipal infrastructure. “We don’t have lead issues in any of our municipal infrastructure,” Hawkins explains. “The problem stems from older homes with service connections and soldering containing lead.” Essentially, lead is introduced into the water supply when it runs through the internal plumbing of these older homes, not from the city’s water mains or towers.

Cities in these high-risk areas have been actively working with local residents to find ways to replace outdated service connections and plumbing materials containing lead. These efforts are crucial to ensure that the water running through the taps in these homes is safe to drink.

For residents concerned about lead in their water, it is essential to understand that the city’s infrastructure is not normally the source of the problem. Instead, the issue lies within older homes’ plumbing systems. Through continued testing, reporting, and infrastructure improvements, both cities aim to mitigate this public health risk and ensure safe drinking water for all residents.

Hawkins outlines the rigorous testing and reporting programs required at both federal and state levels. “We follow both programs and report any findings to the state,” he says. This involves collecting water samples from taps inside homes, where lead is most likely to leach into the water from outdated plumbing materials. Illinois, as the highest in the nation for lead-related issues, has stringent guidelines to manage and mitigate these risks.

Lebanon’s Water and Sewer Superintendent, Penny Zimmerman, provides additional insights into their lead monitoring process in Lebanon, where the water has been cleared since 1994. “We started sampling for lead in 1992 and moved to reduced monitoring in 1994,” Zimmerman says. Initially, they sampled from 40 locations determined by the EPA. Now, they test 20 sites every three years, all of which are from the original 40 locations. “Our highest recorded lead level was 0.13 between 1992 and 2014, and in 2023, the highest was 0.004,” she reports.

For those interested in a full list of zip codes for Illinois, they can visit https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/lead-poisoning-prevention/families-of-lead-exposed-children/pediatric-highrisk-zip-codes.html to find more information on their location.