LeadCare Cook County
LeadCare Cook County offers free lead water service line replacements to child care providers—both licensed and license-exempt—in suburban Cook County.
If a water service line (the pipe that delivers water to your facility from the water main in the street) is made of lead, it could release toxic particles into drinking water.
LeadCare Cook County will identify and replace the lead water service line at no cost to the child care provider.
The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development collaborates with Elevate, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, to lead LeadCare Cook County. The program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Enrollment in LeadCare Cook County, which launched in the summer of 2023, has officially closed. The program will end once American Rescue Plan Act funding runs out in November 2026. The program will continue to work with child care providers who have enrolled before the deadline to receive lead service line inspection and replacement.
More information
Through November 2025, LeadCare Cook County had replaced over 250 lead service lines at child care facilities in suburban Cook County, improving the health of over 2,500 children. Learn more in this LeadCare Cook County Impact Summary.
LeadCare Cook County is also supported by Cook County’s Project Rainbow initiative, which aims to inform, inspire and impact children, students and families across the County. For more information on all Project Rainbow programming, visit projectrainbow.cookcountyil.gov.
Other resources
The program is closed, but support is still available through partner programs:
- Licensed child care providers and schools can receive free lead-in-water testing and mitigation support, including support for lead service line replacements, through LeadCare Illinois. Visit LeadCareIllinois.org to learn more.
- Eligible Chicago providers can receive free lead service line replacement support by visiting leadsafechicago.org.
Cook County also offers programs addressing water affordability. Visit Cook County Water Affordability Program for more details.
Questions?
For more information, including if you’d like to speak to a LeadCare Cook County specialist, call (773) 389-5657 or email info@leadcarecookcounty.org.
For media inquiries, email:
Maria Phelan, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development deputy director of communications
maria.phelan2@cookcountyil.gov
Tom Lally, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development public relations specialist