Lead Contaminated Water Lines
Update concerning Michigan Lead
Contaminated Water Service Line Replacement :
The Legislature and Governor plant
to allow "...replacement in 20 years..." of these lines.
Note -
"Exposure to high levels of lead may cause anemia, weakness, and kidney and brain damage. Very high lead exposure can cause death. Lead can cross the placental barrier, which means pregnant women who are exposed to lead also expose their unborn child. Lead can damage a developing baby's nervous system."
331,000 service lines across the state are known or likely to contain lead (that's roughly 12% of the total service lines in Michigan community water supplies). An additional approximately 314,000 service lines are of unknown material.
331,000 + 314,000 = 645,000 or potentially 24% of the total service lines in Michigan community water supplies.
Michigan ranks 3rd in percentage of children with detectable lead levels. That’s more than 75 percent of children tested. Michigan is tied for fourth in percentage of children with elevated lead levels.
This is a national emergency. Local governments are being ordered to replace the lead lines without financial assistance. County governments are financing White Elephant projects while keeping their hands in their pockets about this dangerous issue. Apparently the State Government of Michigan is in violation of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America by denying these persons within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The means they are using to segregate the population is by income level or personal financial means.
In regards to this letter I was just asked by a Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkely, whether I am an optimist or pessimist when it comes to considering social progress in the United States of America.
My reply :
I am a
realist.
Let
us examine two issues in Michigan.
One
is access to Broadband Networks. That is, having high-speed internet access.
The
other is the presence of water service lines going into homes that are or
potentially are contaminated with lead - making up 24% of all of them right
now.
Money
is pouring into the state to upgrade the broadband networks. They are seeking a
short term solution to the 'problem' that they hope to have covered in a few
years, at the most.
As
for ensuring that the lead contaminated water lines are replaced - the State
has set a goal of 20 years and is not providing direct financing to do it but
is offering loans. Some money is being made available from the Federal
Government (which in the old days had claimed that lead pipes were safe) but,
again, that money is essentially in the forms of loans or matching grants.
In
order to take advantage of increased internet speeds individuals must be of at
least average intelligence. It is a fact that exposure to lead impairs
cognitive reasoning and causes development problems for children.
As
a realist - I am working to have the lead lines replaced. Social progress, to
me, takes second place to social justice.
https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/featured/benton-harbor/lsl-replacement
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