Governor Bruce Rauner says concerns raised by the problems in Flint, Michigan about lead in drinking water are very much on his radar.
"There's no question that Illinois people, especially our young people, are consuming some water... there is no safe level of lead. There is no such thing that I've heard about. There is no such level. We set some random thresholds by the EPA or others."
Rauner says he's instructed Illinois' public health agency to perform an assessment. Rauner, a former private equity investor, says he studied chemistry in college. He says Illinois water has minerals that help to make supplies here safer, but that disruption to pipes during construction can increase exposure levels. He calls it a "challenge" Illinois will have to deal with in future years.
