Last week, we wrote about congressional budget cuts being very bad for drinking water. Well, that blog post ended up being prophetic. This week, Republican lawmakers introduced HJres44, which will repeal the Lead Out of Drinking Water rule passed by the Biden administration. That means all the dangerous lead pipes underneath New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Portland, and most other US cities may not be replaced after all!
Lead exposure can cause damage to our blood cells and nervous system and lead to developmental disorders in our children. Research has shown that children exposed to water from these lead pipes have higher rates of autism, violence, and behavioral disorders and have a lower IQ than kids not exposed to lead.
The Lead Out of Drinking Water rule required replacing these dangerous lead pipes within 10 years. It also lowered the acceptable levels of lead from 15 parts per billion to 10, based on research that shows any amount of lead in drinking water is dangerous.
We need to replace all of the lead pipes in the US with copper pipes that will last for decades and provide cleaner drinking water for everyone. But Republicans in Congress have different ideas, and now we only have 60 days to tell them that squashing the Lead Out of Water rule is unacceptable. Our country’s infrastructure is in dire need of upgrades and replacement. We also need to fix our water systems, including replacing lead pipes. So make government cuts elsewhere!
There are two things you can do about this. First, contact your local congressman and let them know your opinion. Food and Water Watch is a nonprofit organization dedicated to clean drinking water and a healthier food supply. You can quickly contact your congressman through their website by following this link.
Second, if you live in an area serviced by lead pipes, get a KDF pre-filter. This will remove heavy metals from your drinking water. They cost about $85, and you have to replace them every six to nine months.
