GET THE LEAD OUT NOW!
The Issue: Water Quality
Quality of our Nation’s Drinking Water
In April, 2014 the quality of our Nation’s drinking water was called into question as a result of the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Residents of Flint, MI were finding that lead levels in their water was well above the EPA ‘s (Environmental Protection Agency) action level of 15 ppb. Not as widely reported was the fact that 11 cities and 2 counties of New Jersey have poorer water quality than Flint. Some of these cities have been aware of the contaminants, specifically lead, in their drinking water since the early 2000s.
Poor Water Quality and Our Health
Low-level exposure to lead may have a negative impact on a child’s development affecting behavior, attention, bone growth, and decreased IQ. Studies suggest that adults who experienced lead exposure as children have a higher risk of high blood pressure, or may develop reproductive, stomach, and kidney issues. Lead also does not naturally flush out of the body; it accumulates over time.
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Lead in Drinking Water
Lead rarely occurs naturally in water. Lead usually gets into water from aging infrastructure, lead pipes and lead solder, water fountains containing lead, faucets, and the fact that water may sit in pipes for extended periods of time allows the lead to leach into the water. These increased lead levels in drinking water may lead to higher lead levels in people’s blood and other problems in adults and children's bodies.