The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters tapped a groundswell of support for the Leading on Lead bill before the Legislature.

The bill would allow local water utilities to offer grants or low-interest loans to property owners to replace lead pipes.

In May, a coalition of more than 100 health-care professionals, faith figures, community leaders and organization representatives signed a letter urging a vote on the bill, S.B. 48, on the Senate floor.

Sen. Rob Cowles, a Republican from Allouez, sponsored the measure.

“Lead is harmful,” he said. “Not only to children and pregnant women, but to everyone. We need to get these lead-laden drinking water service lines replaced. This legislation is a step in the right direction to give our local governments the control and flexibility they need to start replacing these lead pipes.”

S.B. 48 was voted out of committee in late March but as of May 12 hadn’t been scheduled for a floor vote — even though it had 55 co-sponsors and bipartisan support.

A companion bill, A.B. 78, is before the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities.

WLCV — which says Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is lobbying to kill the lead bills — has gone door to door to raise awareness about the measure and encouraged hundreds of emails and phone calls to lawmakers.

“It is abundantly clear S.B. 48 has widespread support among citizens, faith leaders and legislators,” stated Kerry Schumann, executive director of WLCV. “Now it is time for Senate leadership to prioritize our children’s health over corporate lobbyists and schedule a vote without delay.”

The coalition letter sent earlier this month was endorsed by Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin, Wisconsin Environmental Health Network, Wisconsin Council of Churches, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Wisconsin John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club, Clean Wisconsin, Milwaukee Water Commons and many other organizations.

Clergy and dozens of doctors also joined the campaign.

‘Lead derails the brain’s learning center’

Children with elevated blood lead levels can suffer damage to brain development that causes learning disabilities, mental illness and increased violent behavior.

“Even in the smallest amounts, lead interferes with the synapses in a child’s brain,” the letter states. “In the words of one researcher, lead derails the brain’s learning center.”

Lead leaches into water from lead water mains, lead laterals, old pipes, solder and fixtures.

WLCV emphasizes that toxic lead is a threat even in locations where municipalities are replacing public infrastructure. This is because lateral pipes on private property also may need replacing.

According to the letter sent to legislators, more lead is released into the drinking water supply when new lead-free pipes are soldered onto older lead pipes.

“Lead exposure doesn’t discriminate. Wherever there are lead pipes, there is risk. And the risks are frightening,” the letter states.

Water Woes in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is making emergency bottled water available when private wells in rural parts of the state are contaminated by livestock manure, responding to concerns raised by environmental groups and others in the wake of a spike in problems in recent years.

Environmental groups that have clashed with the DNR over its response to contaminated wells — especially in northeastern Wisconsin where there are many large cattle operations — praised the department in May for starting the program. 

“This relief has been a long time coming and we’re glad the DNR finally stepped up to address this public health threat,” said Sarah Geers, attorney with Midwest Environmental Advocates, a public interest law firm.

Clean Wisconsin and others have been pressuring the DNR to make clean water temporarily available when wells are contaminated.

The department wanted to get the program running before the spring manure-spreading season begins.

— AP

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