Is Milwaukee doing everything they can to remove lead pipes as fast as possible?
Lead Poisoning
Lead is a toxicant and when it enters the human body it can affect multiple parts of the body and gets stored in the bones and teeth. When lead enters the body it attacks the brain and the nervous system, high exposure can cause comas, convulsions, and even death. There is no safe level of blood lead concentration that is safe for the human body. Lead poisoning can affect a child’s brain, their development, decrease IQ, and neurological and behavior issues. All effects of lead poisoning are believed to be irreversible and the more someone is exposed the worse the symptoms can get. Some more symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, stomach cramps, constipation, muscle and joint pain, trouble sleeping, and fatigue.
Flint Michigan
Flint, Michigan is a city that experienced a state of emergency and a water crisis due to lead pipes. In 2014, Flint switched its water supply from Detroit's system to the Flint river to save money. The lack of water treatment and testing lead to the water quality crisis that was overlooked. Even with multiple complaints about the off smell, color, and taste of the water it was ignored for 18 months and the Michigan Civil Rights Commission concluded that it was a result of “systemic racism”. In March of 2015, Flint's lead water levels tested 25 times higher than the EPA deemed safe. On January 15, 2016 President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Flint and sent 5 million dollars to help with the crisis. In March of 2016 the final report stated that the primary responsibility for the crisis in Flint was placed on the state, and particularly on the MDEQ, and task force members called for a thorough review of the emergency manager system.
Lead pipes in Milwaukee
Installing new lead pipes was banned in 1986, but removal of existing ones was never specified. Old lead service lines are only required to be replaced in rare cases. They are required to be replaced in child care facilities, or when a failure or leak occurs. Replacement may also occur if the city owned portion is replaced as part of another construction project.
Milwaukee started replacing lead service lines in 2017. There are still about 66,000 active lead service lines in Milwaukee. There wasn’t documentation for all lead pipes so it’s unknown in some places like West Milwaukee specifically where all lead service lines are located. When they’re replaced, lead service lines are replaced with copper.
Bills
The government is becoming aware of the potential lifelong developments for individuals who are exposed to lead. Bills like the Lead Service Lines, which attempt to remove all lead pipes through the country, allow the government to reduce the construction of lead pipes that carry running water. Regardless of where these pipelines are, if the toxicity of water is high, these lead pipes will slowly corrode and poison the water with the broken down lead. In November of 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed dedicated to invest in the economy and infrastructure of our nation. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has contributed to this attempt of lead pipe removals by providing $15 billion to the LSL who is using this money to speed up the process and use effective, advanced technologies helping communities around the country. Yet there are currently only 40 communities being helped through the United States, with Wisconsin having 10 out of the 40 communities.
Lead is a toxicant and when it enters the human body it can affect multiple parts of the body and gets stored in the bones and teeth. When lead enters the body it attacks the brain and the nervous system, high exposure can cause comas, convulsions, and even death. There is no safe level of blood lead concentration that is safe for the human body. Lead poisoning can affect a child’s brain, their development, decrease IQ, and neurological and behavior issues. All effects of lead poisoning are believed to be irreversible and the more someone is exposed the worse the symptoms can get. Some more symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches, stomach cramps, constipation, muscle and joint pain, trouble sleeping, and fatigue.
Flint Michigan
Flint, Michigan is a city that experienced a state of emergency and a water crisis due to lead pipes. In 2014, Flint switched its water supply from Detroit's system to the Flint river to save money. The lack of water treatment and testing lead to the water quality crisis that was overlooked. Even with multiple complaints about the off smell, color, and taste of the water it was ignored for 18 months and the Michigan Civil Rights Commission concluded that it was a result of “systemic racism”. In March of 2015, Flint's lead water levels tested 25 times higher than the EPA deemed safe. On January 15, 2016 President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Flint and sent 5 million dollars to help with the crisis. In March of 2016 the final report stated that the primary responsibility for the crisis in Flint was placed on the state, and particularly on the MDEQ, and task force members called for a thorough review of the emergency manager system.
Lead pipes in Milwaukee
Installing new lead pipes was banned in 1986, but removal of existing ones was never specified. Old lead service lines are only required to be replaced in rare cases. They are required to be replaced in child care facilities, or when a failure or leak occurs. Replacement may also occur if the city owned portion is replaced as part of another construction project.
Milwaukee started replacing lead service lines in 2017. There are still about 66,000 active lead service lines in Milwaukee. There wasn’t documentation for all lead pipes so it’s unknown in some places like West Milwaukee specifically where all lead service lines are located. When they’re replaced, lead service lines are replaced with copper.
Bills
The government is becoming aware of the potential lifelong developments for individuals who are exposed to lead. Bills like the Lead Service Lines, which attempt to remove all lead pipes through the country, allow the government to reduce the construction of lead pipes that carry running water. Regardless of where these pipelines are, if the toxicity of water is high, these lead pipes will slowly corrode and poison the water with the broken down lead. In November of 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed dedicated to invest in the economy and infrastructure of our nation. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has contributed to this attempt of lead pipe removals by providing $15 billion to the LSL who is using this money to speed up the process and use effective, advanced technologies helping communities around the country. Yet there are currently only 40 communities being helped through the United States, with Wisconsin having 10 out of the 40 communities.
MKE Lead Acceleration Program
Milwaukee is using the Lead Accelerator program through the Biden Administration to help fasten the process of replacing these pipe lines. This program is also helping provide assistance for communities who need help understanding the application process in order to receive government funds in order to fix lead laterals that are connected to homes affected by them and that depend on these bills.
Solution
The biggest problem with the removal of lead pipes in Milwaukee is the funding. It is estimated that 750 million dollars is required to remove all the lead pipes in Milwaukee. It is also estimated that at the current rate of removal it is going to take another 60 plus years before all lead pipes are replaced. Even with the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs act, which contributed 300 millions dollars to lead pipe removal in Milwaukee, there is still the 450 million dollars needed to remove all the pipes. Our solution for getting the rest of the funding and speeding up the process of removal is to get state and federal funding and support. Another way is by State and Local borrowing by issuing bonds to pay for the remaining costs.Borrowing helps spread out the costs and the taxpayers who use the new infrastructure help pay for it. If Milwaukee gets the funding that it needs then they can remove all the pipes and at a faster rate which makes everyone in Milwaukee safer.
Sources
Filenius, Jodie. “Lead in the Water Threatens Generations of Milwaukee Residents.” JAMS 502 Fall 2019, 13 Dec.
2019, https://jams502fall2019.mediamilwaukee.com/lead -in-water-threatens-generations-of-milwaukee-
residents/.
Lead and Water https://city.milwaukee.gov/water/WaterQuality/LadandWater. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
[email protected], Ron Fonger |. “Bottled Water Dries up in Flint as Water Crisis Fallout Continues in New Year.”
Mlive, 6 Jan. 2023, https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2023/01/bottled-water-dries-up-in-flint-as-water-crisis-fallout-continues-in-new-year.html.
Kaeding, Danielle. “EPA Requires Lead Testing For Schools, Day Care Centers, But Fails To Speed Up Lead Line Removal.” Wisconsin Public Radio, 22 Dec. 2020, https://www.wpr.org/epa-requires-lead-testing-schools-day-care-centers-fails-speed-lead-line-removal.
Casey, Evan. “Milwaukee Replaced 1K Lead Pipes in 2022. City Leaders Hope Federal Funds Will Ramp up the Program.” Wisconsin Public Radio, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.wpr.org/milwaukee-replaced-1k-lead-pipes-2022-city-leaders-hope-federal-funds-will-ramp-program.
Flint Water Crisis | Summary, Facts, Governor, & Criminal Charges | Britannica. 11 Dec. 2022,
https://www.britannica.com/event/Flint-water-crisis.
By Wisconsin Watch Year: 2016 Container: Wisconsin Watch URL: https://wisconsinwatch.org/2016/09/lead-in-drinking-water-by-the-numbers/
By US EPA Year: 2018 Container: US EPA URL: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
By Anon Container: www.ny1.com URL: https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2023/02/03/wisconsin-at-forefront-by-white-house-to-fix-lead-pipes-
By Anon Container: www.nyc.gov URL: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/lead-poisoning-adults-and-lead-poisoning.page
By Anon Container: dnr.wisconsin.gov URL: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/documents/EIF/leadServiceLineFunding.html#concerns
By Anon Year: 2022 URL: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Aid/loans/intendedUsePlan/SDWLP_SFY2023_IUP_LSLamend.pdf
By Anon Container: www.fhwa.dot.gov URL: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/
Gordon, Scott. “Wisconsin's Lead Water Pipes Are Often Buried with History.” WisContext, 9 Nov. 2018, https://www.wiscontext.org/wisconsins-lead-water-pipes-are-often-buried-history.
Johnson, Mark, and Mary Spicuzza. “Here's How to Protect Your Family from the Dangers Posed by Lead Pipes and Paint.” Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2018, https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2018/02/07/heres-how-protect-your-familys-water-dangers-posed-lead-pipes-and-paint/312513002/.
Kite, Allison. “'Time Bomb' Lead Pipes Will Be Removed. but First Water Utilities Have to Find Them.” NPR, NPR, 20 July 2022, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/20/1112049811/lead-pipe-removal.
Lead and Water, Milwaukee Water Works, https://city.milwaukee.gov/water/WaterQuality/LeadandWater.
Milwaukee is using the Lead Accelerator program through the Biden Administration to help fasten the process of replacing these pipe lines. This program is also helping provide assistance for communities who need help understanding the application process in order to receive government funds in order to fix lead laterals that are connected to homes affected by them and that depend on these bills.
Solution
The biggest problem with the removal of lead pipes in Milwaukee is the funding. It is estimated that 750 million dollars is required to remove all the lead pipes in Milwaukee. It is also estimated that at the current rate of removal it is going to take another 60 plus years before all lead pipes are replaced. Even with the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs act, which contributed 300 millions dollars to lead pipe removal in Milwaukee, there is still the 450 million dollars needed to remove all the pipes. Our solution for getting the rest of the funding and speeding up the process of removal is to get state and federal funding and support. Another way is by State and Local borrowing by issuing bonds to pay for the remaining costs.Borrowing helps spread out the costs and the taxpayers who use the new infrastructure help pay for it. If Milwaukee gets the funding that it needs then they can remove all the pipes and at a faster rate which makes everyone in Milwaukee safer.
Sources
Filenius, Jodie. “Lead in the Water Threatens Generations of Milwaukee Residents.” JAMS 502 Fall 2019, 13 Dec.
2019, https://jams502fall2019.mediamilwaukee.com/lead -in-water-threatens-generations-of-milwaukee-
residents/.
Lead and Water https://city.milwaukee.gov/water/WaterQuality/LadandWater. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
[email protected], Ron Fonger |. “Bottled Water Dries up in Flint as Water Crisis Fallout Continues in New Year.”
Mlive, 6 Jan. 2023, https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2023/01/bottled-water-dries-up-in-flint-as-water-crisis-fallout-continues-in-new-year.html.
Kaeding, Danielle. “EPA Requires Lead Testing For Schools, Day Care Centers, But Fails To Speed Up Lead Line Removal.” Wisconsin Public Radio, 22 Dec. 2020, https://www.wpr.org/epa-requires-lead-testing-schools-day-care-centers-fails-speed-lead-line-removal.
Casey, Evan. “Milwaukee Replaced 1K Lead Pipes in 2022. City Leaders Hope Federal Funds Will Ramp up the Program.” Wisconsin Public Radio, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.wpr.org/milwaukee-replaced-1k-lead-pipes-2022-city-leaders-hope-federal-funds-will-ramp-program.
Flint Water Crisis | Summary, Facts, Governor, & Criminal Charges | Britannica. 11 Dec. 2022,
https://www.britannica.com/event/Flint-water-crisis.
By Wisconsin Watch Year: 2016 Container: Wisconsin Watch URL: https://wisconsinwatch.org/2016/09/lead-in-drinking-water-by-the-numbers/
By US EPA Year: 2018 Container: US EPA URL: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
By Anon Container: www.ny1.com URL: https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2023/02/03/wisconsin-at-forefront-by-white-house-to-fix-lead-pipes-
By Anon Container: www.nyc.gov URL: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/lead-poisoning-adults-and-lead-poisoning.page
By Anon Container: dnr.wisconsin.gov URL: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/documents/EIF/leadServiceLineFunding.html#concerns
By Anon Year: 2022 URL: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Aid/loans/intendedUsePlan/SDWLP_SFY2023_IUP_LSLamend.pdf
By Anon Container: www.fhwa.dot.gov URL: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/
Gordon, Scott. “Wisconsin's Lead Water Pipes Are Often Buried with History.” WisContext, 9 Nov. 2018, https://www.wiscontext.org/wisconsins-lead-water-pipes-are-often-buried-history.
Johnson, Mark, and Mary Spicuzza. “Here's How to Protect Your Family from the Dangers Posed by Lead Pipes and Paint.” Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2018, https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2018/02/07/heres-how-protect-your-familys-water-dangers-posed-lead-pipes-and-paint/312513002/.
Kite, Allison. “'Time Bomb' Lead Pipes Will Be Removed. but First Water Utilities Have to Find Them.” NPR, NPR, 20 July 2022, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/20/1112049811/lead-pipe-removal.
Lead and Water, Milwaukee Water Works, https://city.milwaukee.gov/water/WaterQuality/LeadandWater.