Advocates Push R.I. Officials to Use Federal Money to Replace Lead-Contaminated Water Pipes — ecoRI News

From ROB SMITH / ecoRI News staff

CAUTION – Proponents are calling on heads of state to spend $ 500 million in federal funds to replace an estimated 100,000 lead-contaminated water supply lines across Rhode Island. The Childhood Lead Action Project has assembled a group of 40 state and local organizations and two dozen political leaders who support the use of dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act and other federal funds to help resolve a nationwide public health problem.

“Clean water is a human right,” said Terri Wright, an organizer of Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), during a rally on September 30 at the Statehouse. “And a need to lead a normal human life.”

Wright, who suffered lead poisoning as a child, found that many low-income parents had difficulty finding clean water and / or access to tests.

The houses most at risk from lead pipes are in the center of the state and in its poorest neighborhoods.

“There is no safe lead concentration in children, we know that,” said Dr. Michael Fine, former director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Children with acute lead poisoning may experience nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The long-term effects of lead in the blood are more serious. Lead poisoning can reduce a child’s ability to learn and increase the likelihood of developmental disorders.

Lead has plagued Rhode Island for a long time. The state’s housing stock tends to be older, and any houses built before 1978, the year lead paint was banned nationwide, are likely to have lead paint, lead dust, and / or lead pipes. Lead poisoning in children has increased slightly, with 3.6 percent of all children under the age of 6 testing positive for elevated levels of lead in their blood nationwide.

Providence Water supplies 60 percent of the state’s population and has long dealt with lead contamination. Its water comes from the Scituate water, unleaded, but lead gets into the water as soon as it hits the supply pipes. National standards set the limit for lead in water at 15 parts per billion (ppb). Water utilities that reach this level must take measures to combat corrosion.

Since 2006, Providence Water has exceeded lead measures in 14 out of 15 years. The utility company has stepped up its efforts to replace contaminated lines in recent years. As of 2017, Providence Water has replaced 2,300 public plumbing and 1,100 private plumbing. It currently estimates that 10,200 public lines and 16,700 private lines of lead remain.

Replacement is just one option the utility has to remove lead from drinking water. Providence Water officials often raise the pH of the water – usually by adding phosphorus – to trigger reactions to minimize lead corrosion. When water interacts with the debris in the pipes it can increase or decrease lead leaching.

A $ 3 million loan from Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank enabled Providence Water to offer homeowners 10-year loans at 0% interest to help replace private service lines. The cost of replacing a service line is between $ 2,000 and $ 3,000. Proponents say that poorer fixed-income residents cannot afford the loans without repaying the interest. So far, around 750 customers of the energy supplier have taken advantage of the loan service.

In a statement to ecoRI News, Providence Water said it is providing “additional funding for lead service line replacement, which is in line with our goal of bringing unleaded water to our customers’ taps.”

“The current plans are insufficient for those with a fixed income,” said MP David Morales. Morales represents Providences House District 7, an area in the West End with lots of old houses and lead pipes. “Drinking water should never be seen as a privilege.”

Proponents see the $ 500 million price tag as both a cost-effective preventative health measure and a job creation boost. They estimate that there are at least 100,000 lead-contaminated supply pipes nationwide. There’s no estimate of how long it would take to replace each pipe, but proponents see enough work in this to keep a small army of local plumbers and professional contractors busy for years.

“It’s only expensive if you think it’s not worth it,” said parent and lawyer Liz Colón.

Rhode Island currently has approximately $ 1.1 billion in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Governor Dan McKee plans to provide $ 100 million for housing, childcare and small business aid by the end of the year. The state is the only one in New England that does not affect ARPA funds. The leaders of the legislature have stated that they want to spend the money as part of the typical budgeting process. The state may receive more federal funding in an infrastructure package that is being discussed in the US House of Representatives.

“It’s outrageous that we’re still here talking about lead in drinking water in 2021,” said Devra Levy, community organizer with the Childhood Lead Action Project. “It’s time to replace the pipes.”

The Unleaded Water Coalition plans to send a letter to leaders next week with their proposal. The list of organizations that have signed it includes Black Lives Matter RI PAC, Clean Water Action Rhode Island, the Conservation Law Foundation, United Way of Rhode Island, and the Thundermist Health Center.

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