Governor Hochul Called on to Prioritize Lead-Free Drinking Water
ALBANY, New York – In recognition of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, concerned citizens, environmental advocates, and state legislators came together to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to prioritize the health and safety of all New Yorkers by addressing the pervasive problem of lead in our drinking water. New York ranks sixth in the nation for the highest number of lead pipes, with an alarming estimated 494,000 lead service lines providing water to homes, schools, and businesses.
Rally attendees called on Governor Hochul to sign the Lead Pipe Right to Know Act (S5512/A6115) by the end of the year, which would require data about where lead pipes are located to be accessible online, making it much easier for New Yorkers to find out if they’re at risk. Most homeowners and tenants do not currently know whether a lead pipe services their building.
Hochul was also called on to provide $100 million in additional funds for lead service line replacement in the 2024 state budget, which would complement the $500 million in federal funds earmarked for New York State. Though the state has invested $5 billion to clean water since 2017, a mere $30 million, less than 1% of the total, has been directed towards lead pipe replacement. The cost to replace all lead pipes in New York is estimated to be at least $2.5 billion.
Lead exposure poses severe health risks, such as high blood pressure, memory issues, mood disorders, developmental delays, and more. Infants and children are particularly vulnerable, with lead exposure linked to cognitive impairments, hearing loss, and behavioral issues. Contaminated pipes predominantly affect low-income communities and communities of color.
“Lead poisoning is an urgent public health issue facing New York’s children – and it disproportionately affects children in low-income and marginalized families. There is no safe level of lead for our young, and lead exposure can have serious lifelong negative health impacts,” said Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee and sponsor of the Lead Pipe Right to Know Act. “The good news is that it’s entirely preventable. I thank Environmental Advocates for keeping this issue front and center and for their advocacy for the Lead Pipes Right to Know Act, which would require the New York State Department of Health to make a drinking water service line inventory and map publicly available and aid effective targeting of state and federal funding for lead service line replacements. Let’s make childhood lead exposure and lead poisoning a thing of the past in New York State!”
“On this National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, I urge Governor Hochul to sign my Lead Pipe Right to Know Act. This critical bill will make information about the number and location of lead pipelines easily accessible to New Yorkers in an effort to get lead out of New York’s drinking water,” stated Senator Gustavo Rivera, Chair of the Senate Health Committee and sponsor of the Lead Pipe Right to Know Act. “Since there’s no safe level of lead, we must implement all possible measures to update our state’s infrastructure and ensure access to clean water across the State.”
Source: Environmental Advocates NY