Chicago is not one of those cities that have transitioned to Democratic control recently - they haven't had a Republican mayor since 1933. Even NYC had one as recently as 2012 or so.

Unfunded mandates are not going to be popular, no matter which political party does so. Reading the article, it appears that the federal government has provided about half of the EPA-estimated cost of replacing all these pipes. So that means either states paying for the rest or forcing customers (i.e., ordinary people and businesses) to cover the cost. Since the COVID-related tax income flush has trickled off, state budgets will be tight, so this will probably have to be funded with a tax increase or water bill increase (functionally the same as a tax).

Go back and re-read the prior comment. Then think about it.

You'll then understand that fixing things, currently or in the near future, it will be the current leadership that has much of the blame or applaud coming to them.