Get the Lead Out: We Need Safe Drinking Water!

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Dear EPA Administrator Regan,

There is no safe level of lead exposure. This is especially true for our children, who can suffer permanent neurological effects and slowed development. And yet, up to 22 million Americans still drink tap water served by lead pipes. Therefore, we ask that you finalize a strong Lead and Copper Rule that will vigorously defend public health and give everyone access to safer drinking water.
The EPA's recent Lead and Copper Rule Revision is a critical step in the right direction, but these regulations would take a decade to be put into place and allow some utilities to skirt their duty to pay for lead pipe replacement. We need the EPA to finalize strong regulations that:
1. Require water utilities to cover the full cost of lead service line replacement. This will prevent the financial burden from being placed on low-income homeowners and renters, whose landlords are unlikely to pay the cost of lead pipe replacement. This is especially important in environmental justice communities that already face disproportionate lead contamination.
2. Ensure water utilities do not take more than a decade to remove lead service lines. We don’t want another generation of our kids to be harmed by lead-contaminated tap water, or to expose adults with cardiovascular disease to additional risk of heart attack or death.
Please, Mr. Regan, do your part to replace lead pipes equitably and quickly.
Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City & State]

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Summary

There is no safe level of lead exposure. This is especially true for children, who can suffer permanent neurological effects and slowed development. And yet, up to twenty-two million Americans still drink tap water served by lead pipes. As a result, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new regulations to get lead out of drinking water. This includes removing lead from more communities, requiring testing in schools and childcare centers, and identifying and replacing lead service lines. The EPA is inviting public comment on these changes until February 5th, which gives us an important opportunity to push for the strongest regulations possible and help stop this health crisis. To protect our children and communities, send the EPA a message today!

Who will receive your message?

Chavaysha Chaney - WHE Manager of Advocacy and Health Policy

Lauren Posey - WHE Health Policy Assistant