Bill to Combat Lead in Drinking Water Before Congress

WASHINGTON, DC,, May 6, 2004 (ENS) - New legislation jointly introduced in the U.S. House and Senate would overhaul and strengthen the federal rules governing lead testing and standards in the nation's public water systems. The bills have been written in response to high lead levels in the drinking water systems of Washington, DC and Boston - and to increasing concern that the current system for ensuring the safety of public water supplies is insufficient.

"It is time to get the lead out of our pipes, out of our water, out of our families and out of our lives," said Senator James Jeffords, a Vermont Independent and a cosponsor of the Senate bill. "Safe drinking water is not a privilege, it is a right."

In drinking water systems, lead is found in some service lines and pipes in distribution systems, in solder, and in plumbing fixtures. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that some 20 percent of lead exposure comes from lead in drinking water.

At a Congressional hearing last month, EPA officials said the agency lacks current information on lead levels from 78 percent of the nation's public drinking water systems and has no data from as many as 20 states.

The new bill - the "Lead-Free Drinking Water Act of 2004" would call on the EPA to reevaluate and strengthen the rules for lead in drinking water within 18 months. It would tighten water testing and treatment requirements - the bill would force utilities to monitor for lead contamination every six months.

The bill would authorize $200 million annually in federal funding for lead service line replacements and would expedite that replacement.

In addition it would require better notification for residents when a water system has high lead levels and increased water testing and lead remediation in schools and day-care centers nationwide.

Jeffords introduced the bill at a press conference Tuesday with Maryland Democratic Senator Paul Sarbanes, along with California Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman and Washington D.C. Democratic Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.

"It is time to get the lead out of our pipes, out of our water, out of our families and out of our lives," said Jeffords. "We hope to move this bill this year."

The Vermont Independent said he will try and attach the bill to water infrastructure legislation slated for consideration later this month by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.