The threat of lead pipes is nothing new, of course. Before the world learned that tens of thousands of people in Flint, Mich., were being poisoned, officials had dismissed residents’ concerns that their water was making them sick. This astounding neglect shone a light on systemic inequities that have been baked into too many of our communities for far too long. It was a moment of reckoning, underlining the question of who gets to be healthy in America and who is left behind.
From central Michigan to southeastern Louisiana, we’ve known for years that lead in drinking water is a public health catastrophe. It’s past time to rebuild trust between communities and their water and establish access to clean and affordable water as a human right — no matter where one lives. It’s past time for government leaders at the local, state and federal level to make this a top priority and dedicate the resources to get it right.
Flint’s pipes were to be replaced within three years. A decade later, Flint waits — a case study in what ails America. An estimated 9.2 million lead service lines still supply drinking water nationwide, according to a 2021 report by the Environmental Protection Agency, even though lead pipes have been outlawed in new construction since 1986. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that no amount of lead exposure is safe. Compounding the problem, more than 2 million Americans don’t currently have running water in their homes and millions more are exposed to contaminated water supplies.
Communities have experienced lasting health effects from these exposures. In Flint, the number of children with elevated blood lead levels has doubled, from 2.5 percent to 5 percent. Children are the most vulnerable to lead’s effects: Lead exposure has been linked to nervous system damage, learning disabilities, hearing impairment and other serious complications. These all have lifelong ripple effects, leading to behavioral and health problems, joblessness and even criminal records. Exposure in adults can increase the risk of cardiovascular, kidney and reproductive issues.
Like many other health disparities, Black communities are disproportionately affected. Research has found that blood lead levels are higher in children living in racially segregated neighborhoods — underscoring the systematic racism that shapes our neighborhoods and determines who endures harmful environmental crises. These are the communities left behind on vital public health projects, a failure of government at all levels.
Fortunately, advocates fighting for a lead-free future are leading the way, and substantial resources are finally available: The Biden administration dedicated $15 billion from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law to replace all lead water pipes nationwide within the decade. These funds have already supported hundreds of projects in Indigenous communities and expedited lead pipe removal projects in Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and other cities. The funding has also prioritized lead pipe replacement in homes, schools and day care centers. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed rule improvements around lead and copper pipes in 2023, calling for, among other things, all water systems to replace lead service lines within 10 years.
These investments do more than improve the health and safety of communities. Every dollar invested in safer water produces $5 in societal benefits, according toJUST Infrastructure. Billions of dollars in health-care costs are saved, jobs are created and economic growth surges. Prioritizing water safety can have ripple effects on the well-being of entire communities.
Even so, the work continues. Flint’s leaders must finish the job on service lines and reimburse residents for the years they paid for unsafe water. Local legislators should also provide complete health-care and educational support services for all children, adults and seniors impacted by the water — for life.
Ensuring clean water for all Americans is a necessity — not a nice-to-have. Nine out of 10 voters agree that access to safe, affordable water is a human right. The injustice of Flint a decade ago should have been a wake-up call for generations of neglect. We cannot fall into a slumber once again while millions of Americans suffer. Now is the time to get it right.
Nayyirah Shariff is an organizer based in Flint, Mich., and director of Flint Rising, a coalition of grassroots, community organizations and allies working to ensure water, environmental, and climate justice in Flint and around the country. Jessica Dandridge-Smith is executive director of the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, which works at the intersection of water infrastructure, environmental justice, and climate adaptation and mitigation.
Governing’s opinion columns reflect the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Governing’s editors or management.
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