How do lead service lines impact communities, and how can the issues be resolved?
Lead Service Lines in Milwaukee
Driving question: How do lead service lines impact communities, and what can help the issues be resolved?
Background and History
Lead is a naturally occurring element that can be found in things such as the air, soil, inside homes, and of course water. Lead at any amount can be harmful to humans. Low levels of lead can cause things like high blood pressure and cardiovascular effects, joint and muscle pain, difficulties with memory and concentration, headaches and abdominal pain and mood disorders, as well as reproductive problems. High levels can lead to lead poisoning and death. This is acute or chronic poisoning due to the absorption and build-up of lead in the body. Lead poisoning can be treated but any damage that is done cannot be reversed.
Pregnant women are at a high risk of being affected by lead, especially if they are planning on breastfeeding. Babies can be born prematurely, have lower birth weights, and have delayed growth due to the accumulation of lead in their bones as a fetus or from breastfeeding. Children under the age of 6 are the most at risk because low levels of lead can severely impact mental and physical development. Along with, irritability, loss of appetite and weight, fatigue, hearing loss, and seizures. One of the most dangerous things about this is that it can be very hard to detect because people may not know that they are being exposed. Even healthy people can have high levels of lead and not know it.
Simple precautions can drastically reduce the chance of people being harmed by lead. Water service lines connect the water main in the street to a person's property. The lines are made out of materials that include copper, galvanized steel, plastic, and lead. Lead pipes were common in the early 1900s because lead is a cheap malleable material. Lead gets into the water from the pipes by corrosion.
The metal is dissolving due to the reaction between the water and the pipe. There a few different ways that this can happen; certain water chemistry, acidity and amounts of minerals, the amount of lead that the water comes in contact with and how long the water remains in the pipes, the temperature of the water, the age of the pipes (how worn down they are), and the addition of protective coating inside the pipes. Lead service lines stopped being used in 1960 and were banned from use in 1984. It is hard to get any information regarding the number of pipes located in the state of Wisconsin, the cities of Milwaukee or Waukesha because no one knows how many there are and where they are. Cities were built during different times with different materials, so some may have been documented and a lot were not.
Current Status
Currently, in Milwaukee, when the water leaves a treatment plant it is clean and there is no lead.
Under the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances 225-22.5, in compliance with the Lead Copper Rule, protects communities from the risks of lead exposure. The newly revised rule of 2021 is better at protecting children at schools and child care facilities. It also strives to get the lead out of the nation’s drinking water as well as empowering communities through information.
If the lines are from the water main to the curb stop then they are city-owned, if the lines are from the curb stop to the meter, then they are customer-owned. Either of these can be replaced. If there is a plan to replace or repair a water main that has a lead service line connected to it, that lead service line will be replaced as well. Should a service line be severed or damaged by a contractor digging for street reconstruction or a sewer main replacement project, The Department of Public Works will notify Milwaukee Water Works. Milwaukee Water Works will coordinate with the property owner to replace both the customer-owned and city-owned sections of the lead service line with copper. Civilians have the opportunity to choose to replace their pipes if they are lead. When a property owner chooses to replace their customer-owned section of lead service line when it is NOT Required, the city must replace its city-owned section of the lead service line. Milwaukee Water Works will not replace a lead service line if a planned or emergency water shut off effects of property with the lead service line, a property with the lead service line is within the vicinity of a water main replacement, but is not directly connected to the section of main being replaced.
The DNR sends lead sampling instructions to public water systems when sampling is required. They will notify any home owners of their test results. They will only take action to reduce lead in drinking water if more than 10 percent of the sample exceeds 0.015 parts per million. The DNR also provides public education to inform all consumers when samples exceed the action level for lead. FInally they publish a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to summarize the test results, making the report available to all consumers of the community water system.
The DNR recommends that private landowners get their water sampled and tested, but it is not required.
Who pays for the replacement of the lead service lines?
If homeowners want to replace lines a cost-share is available for certain properties with 1-4 dwelling units if they choose a city contractor to do the work and the owner can pay their cost-share over a period of 10 years. City-owned replacement is paid for by water utility rate revenue because the section is utility property.
Driving question: How do lead service lines impact communities, and what can help the issues be resolved?
Background and History
Lead is a naturally occurring element that can be found in things such as the air, soil, inside homes, and of course water. Lead at any amount can be harmful to humans. Low levels of lead can cause things like high blood pressure and cardiovascular effects, joint and muscle pain, difficulties with memory and concentration, headaches and abdominal pain and mood disorders, as well as reproductive problems. High levels can lead to lead poisoning and death. This is acute or chronic poisoning due to the absorption and build-up of lead in the body. Lead poisoning can be treated but any damage that is done cannot be reversed.
Pregnant women are at a high risk of being affected by lead, especially if they are planning on breastfeeding. Babies can be born prematurely, have lower birth weights, and have delayed growth due to the accumulation of lead in their bones as a fetus or from breastfeeding. Children under the age of 6 are the most at risk because low levels of lead can severely impact mental and physical development. Along with, irritability, loss of appetite and weight, fatigue, hearing loss, and seizures. One of the most dangerous things about this is that it can be very hard to detect because people may not know that they are being exposed. Even healthy people can have high levels of lead and not know it.
Simple precautions can drastically reduce the chance of people being harmed by lead. Water service lines connect the water main in the street to a person's property. The lines are made out of materials that include copper, galvanized steel, plastic, and lead. Lead pipes were common in the early 1900s because lead is a cheap malleable material. Lead gets into the water from the pipes by corrosion.
The metal is dissolving due to the reaction between the water and the pipe. There a few different ways that this can happen; certain water chemistry, acidity and amounts of minerals, the amount of lead that the water comes in contact with and how long the water remains in the pipes, the temperature of the water, the age of the pipes (how worn down they are), and the addition of protective coating inside the pipes. Lead service lines stopped being used in 1960 and were banned from use in 1984. It is hard to get any information regarding the number of pipes located in the state of Wisconsin, the cities of Milwaukee or Waukesha because no one knows how many there are and where they are. Cities were built during different times with different materials, so some may have been documented and a lot were not.
Current Status
Currently, in Milwaukee, when the water leaves a treatment plant it is clean and there is no lead.
Under the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances 225-22.5, in compliance with the Lead Copper Rule, protects communities from the risks of lead exposure. The newly revised rule of 2021 is better at protecting children at schools and child care facilities. It also strives to get the lead out of the nation’s drinking water as well as empowering communities through information.
If the lines are from the water main to the curb stop then they are city-owned, if the lines are from the curb stop to the meter, then they are customer-owned. Either of these can be replaced. If there is a plan to replace or repair a water main that has a lead service line connected to it, that lead service line will be replaced as well. Should a service line be severed or damaged by a contractor digging for street reconstruction or a sewer main replacement project, The Department of Public Works will notify Milwaukee Water Works. Milwaukee Water Works will coordinate with the property owner to replace both the customer-owned and city-owned sections of the lead service line with copper. Civilians have the opportunity to choose to replace their pipes if they are lead. When a property owner chooses to replace their customer-owned section of lead service line when it is NOT Required, the city must replace its city-owned section of the lead service line. Milwaukee Water Works will not replace a lead service line if a planned or emergency water shut off effects of property with the lead service line, a property with the lead service line is within the vicinity of a water main replacement, but is not directly connected to the section of main being replaced.
The DNR sends lead sampling instructions to public water systems when sampling is required. They will notify any home owners of their test results. They will only take action to reduce lead in drinking water if more than 10 percent of the sample exceeds 0.015 parts per million. The DNR also provides public education to inform all consumers when samples exceed the action level for lead. FInally they publish a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to summarize the test results, making the report available to all consumers of the community water system.
The DNR recommends that private landowners get their water sampled and tested, but it is not required.
Who pays for the replacement of the lead service lines?
If homeowners want to replace lines a cost-share is available for certain properties with 1-4 dwelling units if they choose a city contractor to do the work and the owner can pay their cost-share over a period of 10 years. City-owned replacement is paid for by water utility rate revenue because the section is utility property.
Key Players List
EPA: The Lead Copper Rule was put into place in 1991 to force regulation of lead in drinking water. The regulation requires systems to collect samples from sites within the system that are likely to have materials containing lead
D.N.R.: Under Wisconsin's public water system, water is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water act. Systems are required to be tested by the collection and analysis of the water from specific sites.
MWW: In 1996 they implemented corrosion control to help reduce lead in tap water. This corrosion control is achieved by adding orthophosphate, an FDA approved food additive. This coats the pipes and internal plumbing fixtures and significantly reduces lead and copper from dissolving into the water.
Power Dynamics
Milwaukee Water Works can control whether the service line is to be replaced. They hold power over home and business owners to make them replace the service lines themselves, meaning they will be forced to pay out of their own pocket if the service line does not fall under replacement standards for government assistance.
The EPA persuades the states to make a change, but when the government enforces their power, there is a clash between them and the people. The people claim that the state should be the ones who replace the service lines. The Department of Natural Resources states that there are many programs and organizations designated to assist with lead service lines. They claim that there are around 63 million dollars to replace the service lines, but the negative side of this is that they will only remove it if it is on private property.
The EPA is demanding that schools and childcare services take lead tests so that the EPA can gather data two show what condition the pipes are in. If the pipes are corroded it can cause lead poisoning to all the people that use them. Most of the schools and childcare centers wanna get them removed but says the EPA/government should pay for the pipes. The government is saying that the homeowners should pay 100% because they own the property. Some insurance plans cover a break in the service line but many people say that the insurance should cover the cost to have the pipes replaced.
Ethical Issues
The question of, are these pipelines being removed quickly and efficiently enough gets brought up? The usage of lead pipes can lead to so many horrible health issues, why isn't the government making the removal of lead pipelines a priority? A lot of homeowners are probably unaware if they have lead pipelines or not, and if they do should they be the ones who have to pay for it? More people should be educated on lead pipelines to help protect themselves and their families. Only certain projects are eligible for funding, for example, infrastructure replacement. Why does there have to be an existing project in order to take care of the Pipelines? If a homeowner has lead service lines, and they want to replace them, they are forced to pay for the price 100%, why isn't the removal mandatory?
Solutions
Our initial question revolves around possible solutions and effective strategies to help remove the lead service lines that are causing harm in Wisconsin. If service lines cannot be replaced, An effective solution might be changing the chemistry of the water. Chemicals Can be added to the water to help prevent corrosion. Families can get an NSF 5-3 certified filter and can also be eligible for a free filter from the Milwaukee Health Department.
Additional information and education about how to protect yourself from lead poisoning it's also provided by the health department. For example, if you have no filter for your water, only drink and cook with cold water that has been running out of the faucet for more than 3 minutes. It is also recommended that you regularly wash the screen at the end of your faucet to prevent buildup. Homeowners and business owners can also pay to get their water tested by their water utility to find out more about the lead levels in their drinking water.
Residents of Milwaukee can go to
https://city.milwaukee.gov/water/WaterQuality/LeadandWater/Lead-Service-Line-Records to see whether their home has lead pipes.
EPA: The Lead Copper Rule was put into place in 1991 to force regulation of lead in drinking water. The regulation requires systems to collect samples from sites within the system that are likely to have materials containing lead
D.N.R.: Under Wisconsin's public water system, water is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water act. Systems are required to be tested by the collection and analysis of the water from specific sites.
MWW: In 1996 they implemented corrosion control to help reduce lead in tap water. This corrosion control is achieved by adding orthophosphate, an FDA approved food additive. This coats the pipes and internal plumbing fixtures and significantly reduces lead and copper from dissolving into the water.
Power Dynamics
Milwaukee Water Works can control whether the service line is to be replaced. They hold power over home and business owners to make them replace the service lines themselves, meaning they will be forced to pay out of their own pocket if the service line does not fall under replacement standards for government assistance.
The EPA persuades the states to make a change, but when the government enforces their power, there is a clash between them and the people. The people claim that the state should be the ones who replace the service lines. The Department of Natural Resources states that there are many programs and organizations designated to assist with lead service lines. They claim that there are around 63 million dollars to replace the service lines, but the negative side of this is that they will only remove it if it is on private property.
The EPA is demanding that schools and childcare services take lead tests so that the EPA can gather data two show what condition the pipes are in. If the pipes are corroded it can cause lead poisoning to all the people that use them. Most of the schools and childcare centers wanna get them removed but says the EPA/government should pay for the pipes. The government is saying that the homeowners should pay 100% because they own the property. Some insurance plans cover a break in the service line but many people say that the insurance should cover the cost to have the pipes replaced.
Ethical Issues
The question of, are these pipelines being removed quickly and efficiently enough gets brought up? The usage of lead pipes can lead to so many horrible health issues, why isn't the government making the removal of lead pipelines a priority? A lot of homeowners are probably unaware if they have lead pipelines or not, and if they do should they be the ones who have to pay for it? More people should be educated on lead pipelines to help protect themselves and their families. Only certain projects are eligible for funding, for example, infrastructure replacement. Why does there have to be an existing project in order to take care of the Pipelines? If a homeowner has lead service lines, and they want to replace them, they are forced to pay for the price 100%, why isn't the removal mandatory?
Solutions
Our initial question revolves around possible solutions and effective strategies to help remove the lead service lines that are causing harm in Wisconsin. If service lines cannot be replaced, An effective solution might be changing the chemistry of the water. Chemicals Can be added to the water to help prevent corrosion. Families can get an NSF 5-3 certified filter and can also be eligible for a free filter from the Milwaukee Health Department.
Additional information and education about how to protect yourself from lead poisoning it's also provided by the health department. For example, if you have no filter for your water, only drink and cook with cold water that has been running out of the faucet for more than 3 minutes. It is also recommended that you regularly wash the screen at the end of your faucet to prevent buildup. Homeowners and business owners can also pay to get their water tested by their water utility to find out more about the lead levels in their drinking water.
Residents of Milwaukee can go to
https://city.milwaukee.gov/water/WaterQuality/LeadandWater/Lead-Service-Line-Records to see whether their home has lead pipes.
Bibliography
“Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 9 Dec. 2020, www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water#reducehome.
“The City of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Water Works Do Not Endorse Insurance Policies or Warranties for Water Service Lines or Sewer Laterals.” You Are Not Required to Purchase Water or Sewer Line Insurance, city.milwaukee.gov/water/about/Important-Announcements/Did-the-City-of-Milwaukee-endo#:~:text=The%20water%20service%20line%20connects,belong%20to%20the%20property%20owner.
“Drinking Water and Lead.” Drinking Water and Lead | Wisconsin DNR, dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/DrinkingWater/lead.html.
“Funding for Lead Service Line Replacement.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 11 Aug. 2020, www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/funding-lead-service-line-replacement.
Lead and Water, city.milwaukee.gov/water/WaterQuality/LeadandWater.
“Lead Poisoning.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 20 Dec. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354717.
“Lead Service Line Replacement.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 11 Oct. 2019, www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/lead-service-line-replacement.
“Learn about Lead.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 22 Dec. 2020, www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead.