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File #: 171820    Version: 0
Type: Resolution Status: Placed On File
File created: 3/27/2018 In control: COMMON COUNCIL
On agenda: Final action: 5/21/2024
Effective date:    
Title: Resolution directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to lobby the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide financial assistance to local governments to remediate lead in drinking water.
Sponsors: ALD. RAINEY
Indexes: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DIVISION, LEAD ABATEMENT, WATER WORKS

Number

171820

Version

ORIGINAL

Reference

 

Sponsor

ALD. RAINEY

Title

Resolution directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to lobby the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide financial assistance to local governments to remediate lead in drinking water.

Analysis

This resolution directs the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to lobby the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide financial assistance local governments to remediate lead in drinking water.

Body

Whereas, Approximately 2,000 water systems spanning all 50 states have water tests that show excessive levels of lead contamination within the past four years; and

 

Whereas, The water systems, which reported lead levels exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, collectively supply water to 6 million people, including approximately 350 water systems that provide drinking water to schools or day cares; and

 

Whereas, At least 180 water systems have been found to have failed to notify customers about the high levels of lead, as required by the federal rules; and

 

Whereas, Even at small doses, lead poses a health threat, especially for pregnant women and young children, causing damage to growing brains, reduced IQs, attention disorders, and other behavioral problems; and

 

Whereas, As many as 600 water systems have tested lead levels as high as 40 parts per billion, which is more than double the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level limit; and

 

Whereas, Lead water-service lines are a significant source of lead in water systems; and

 

Whereas, Replacing lead water-service lines is both necessary and costly; and

 

Whereas, Many cities are in need of financial assistance to appropriately address the replacement of lead water-service lines, especially for residents who are financially unable to pay for lead water-service line replacement; and

 

Whereas, The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment, including ensuring that Americans have clean water; and

 

Whereas, Nearly half of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s budget goes into grants, including to state environmental programs for use in projects, such as community cleanups; and

 

Whereas, Lead water-service lines pose an environmental risk ; now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to lobby the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide financial assistance local governments to remediate lead in drinking water.

 

Requestor

 

Drafter

LRB170985-1

Tea Norfolk

3/14/2018