Concerns of lead crisis grow, as multiple cities in the U.S. deal with elevated levels
Newark, New Jersey, stole headlines earlier this month when the city began distributing bottled water to residents due to elevated levels of lead in its drinking water, but a Bloomberg Environment analysis found that 10 other cities — including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — are dealing with similar situations.
The other cities have not had to resort to Newark's more extreme measures, but they have had to forge expensive and lengthy campaigns to improve water quality and remove the lead pipes that are the source of the contamination. Bloomberg notes that the Environmental Protection Agency requires water utilities to sample lead levels up to twice a year and if more than 10 percent of those samples contain lead above 15 parts per billion, utilities must take steps such as more intense sampling, using different anti-corrosion chemicals, or ripping lead pipes out of the ground.
While 15 parts billion is reportedly only equivalent to about 15 drops of water in a swimming pool, lead can reportedly cause serious harm at even far lower levels. "What we know now that we didn't know a decade ago is that low does matter," Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, executive director of the Children's Environmental Health Network, said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The EPA estimated in 2018 that replacing lead service lines would cost an average of $4,700 per pipe with some replacements costing as much as $12,300. This would obviously add up in cities like Trenton, New Jersey, which has approximately 21,000 lead service lines. The cost isn't the only hurdle, either, since in some cases, homeowners must grant utilities companies permission to work on their private property. Read more at Bloomberg.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published