CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayor Lori Lightfoot is asking the City Council to re-start residential water meter installation that was halted in 2019 over concerns about lead.
Research has found it’s safe to install both traditional and ultrasonic water meters, which have no moving parts, without stirring up lead in service lines to the point that it would be unsafe to drink, according to the city.
"No one in the city of Chicago should go without clean water simply because they cannot afford it," said Lightfoot in a statement.
"That's why providing access to affordable water is and will always be one of the City's most essential services. Today, we are taking a huge step forward in not only lowering the cost of water but also ensuring that we are preserving its affordability for years to come."
The city said that those homes that already have meters have seen a 50 percent reduction in water bills.
Part of the plan is put a cap on fees, so people wouldn’t pay more than they are now for seven years and shut-off's for non-payment would be banned.
Also, the ordinance introduced by the mayor would prevent privatization of the water system in the future.
"Based on recent study results, we can confidently restart the program with new modifications that will protect health and safety," Water Commissioner Andrea Cheng said.
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