Today, the US Water Alliance joined a new Environmental Protection Agency-led partnership to advance health-informed and justice-centered principles of lead service line replacement across the US. The partnership consists of representatives from the federal government, states, Tribes, local communities, nongovernmental organizations, water utilities, labor unions, and private companies.
“The need to comprehensively address aging infrastructure is long overdue, and the US Water Alliance is proud to sign on to these principles and join hundreds of organizations in the effort to remediate the nationwide damage caused by lead service lines,” says Mami Hara, US Water Alliance CEO. “This is a problem with many causes, including lack of funding and education, disinvestment, and a legacy of structural racism. By leading with equity, we can center the needs of, and guidance from, those who have been most impacted by the health threats of lead exposure.”
These principles aim to reduce lead in drinking water, protect families and communities across the nation, and support rapid progress toward replacing all lead pipes in the next decade. Prioritizing these principles will result in both public health and economic benefits.
“While advanced water treatment technologies have allowed people in the US to enjoy some of the best drinking water in the world, the continued presence of lead service lines remains a public health threat for far too many,” says Renée Willette, Vice President of Programs and Strategy at the US Water Alliance. “By focusing on cross-sector partnerships between water utilities, community-based organizations, labor, philanthropy, artists and culture bearers, and the private sector, we can collectively leverage this investment to protect public health, grow community partnerships, and help build the next generation of the water workforce. Together, we can achieve equitable One Water outcomes for our environment, our economy, and our communities.”
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