By Josh Klainberg
There is no safe level of lead exposure and when humans are exposed, it can lead to significant, and irreversible, health effects including behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia.
On November 30, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), an advancement in protecting children and adults from being exposed to lead in drinking water. One of the most impactful proposed mandates by the EPA is achieving 100% Lead Pipe Replacement within 10 years for most water systems around the United States commencing in 2027.
In order to meet this mandate, water systems will need to have the most accurate inventory as soon as possible in order to line up the materials, labor, and funding needed to achieve 100% lead pipe replacement quickly, efficiently, equitably, and cost-effectively.
As water systems are putting together inventories, they are learning that they do not know the material of every service line in their distribution systems. Collecting that information should not be difficult for water systems to obtain and in most cases, customers will cooperate with their local water system, granting consent to access to their property to perform a free visual inspection to determine the presence of a lead service line.
However, as already experienced in communities around the country trying to address the lead pipe issue, water systems will inevitably encounter cases where the customer will be unresponsive or uncooperative which could significantly delay this process to protect the public health.
NYLCV, Environmental Advocates of New York, and the New York State Chapter of the American Water Works Association have teamed up behind a bill they are calling the “Find Lead Pipes Faster Act.” The bill, S. 9345 / A. 10311, sponsored by Senator Rivera and Assemblymember Paulin, creates a proactive, commonsense approach to this concern by setting up a reasonable and timely process for collecting consent to inspect the service line from unresponsive customers or from uncooperative customers or non-owner occupants.
In 2023, New York State enacted the Lead Pipe Right to Know Act, which will allow New Yorkers to easily access information about their risk of exposure to lead in drinking water. The value of this information will only be as good as the information that the water systems have.
NYLCV and its team will be working closely with the legislature in the coming weeks to pass the bill by the end of the legislative session. Stay tuned for opportunities to make your voice heard on this important issue.