From:	info@kingfishmke.com
Sent:	Monday, October 03, 2016 9:52 AM
To:	Kovac, Nik; Hamilton, Ashanti; Johnson, Cavalier; Bauman, Robert; 
Bohl, James; Coggs, Milele; Rainey, Khalif; Donovan, Robert; Lewis, 
Chantia; Murphy, Michael (Alderman); Borkowski, Mark; Perez, Jose; 
Witkowski, Terry; Zielinski, Tony; Stamper II, Russell
Cc:	Elmer, Linda
Subject:	Steering & Rules Committee Testimony By Ms. Carrie Lewis Regarding 
Partial Lead Service Line Removal

October 3, 2016
 
Alderman Ashanti Hamilton 
President Milwaukee Common Council
Chairman, Steering and Rules Committee
200 E. Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
Ref: Steering & Rules Committee Testimony By Ms. Carrie Lewis Regarding Partial Lead Service Line 
Removal
 
Dear President Hamilton:
 
Superintendent of Milwaukee Water Works, Ms. Carrie Lewis, stated at the recent Steering & Rules 
Committee that to date 200 partial lead service line replacements were done by the City of Milwaukee 
in order to repair leaks. She went on to say that seven property owners opted at their own expense to 
replace the lead service line on their side of the property. Ms. Lewis further stated that the City replaced 
its side of the service line with copper pipe. What she did not explain is whether or not the City made 
sure to insulate the copper pipe from connecting with the lead line to prevent a battery like effect 
between the two metals known as the "galvanic effect". 
 
Ms. Lewis continued to say that the City will be working to "correct" those partial lead service lines it 
worked on in the coming year. What needs to be elaborated upon is what does she mean that they will 
be correcting the partial lead service replacements the City did. What is it that needs to be corrected?
 
As I've pointed out in my letter to Mayor Barrett and in several articles about partial lead service line 
removals; two concerns science has proven put water consumers at high risk of spiking lead levels by 
this practice. First, the "galvanic effect" which causes the two metals to leach into the water because of 
the battery like reaction and second, the leaching of lead into the water caused by the lead pipe being 
disturbed because of the cutting and jostling being done by workers partially replacing the City side of 
the lead service line. 
 
I will remind you that the EPA's Scientific Advisory Board released a report in 2011 raising serious 
concerns about the practice of partial lead service line removals. It's with great concern that the 
Superintendent of Milwaukee Water Works and Mayor Barrett seem to not acknowledge this report and 
continued the practice of partial lead service line removal these past few years since the release of that 
report.
 
With the fact that the City continued the practice of partial lead service line removals to repair leaks, 
after the EPAs report was released in 2011, what steps were taken to protect families from the poison 
these pipes released into the water during the work and months after the replacement was completed? 
It is unthinkable that families in Milwaukee were put in serious harm from lead poisoning after this 
report was released which made it clear that such practice should not continue, yet the testimony by 
Ms. Lewis indicates that they were continued in Milwaukee.
 
I ask that clarification of Ms. Lewis' statement be requested so that it is clear what it is that she means 
by saying they are proceeding to "correct" what was done to these toxic lead pipes the City partially 
replaced. In addition, I believe an explanation is needed to address the concern as to why the City opted 
to continue to do partial lead service line replacements after the EPA’s release of its report and 
subsequent guidance/advisory not to do partial lead service line replacements. 
 
Sincerely,
Robert Miranda
FLAC Spokesperson
 
cc:  City of Milwaukee, Common Council
   Freshwater for Life Action Coalition, FLAC