District of Columbia
Current Campaigns
Can we trust the DC Water and Sewer Authority?
Why is WASA hiding the truth about partial lead pipe replacements?
Myth
To make the case for slowing down its lead pipe replacement program, WASA claims that partial lead pipe replacements "have shown only small decreases in lead levels at the tap."
Fact
After intense questioning during WASA's first community meeting on January 30, WASA finally admitted that in many cases partial lead pipe replacements result in lead spikes to the water, up to weeks after replacement. WASA has already carried out 8,900 such replacements in the District, potentially engendering the health of thousands of residents. Why did they hide this from us?
Why is WASA not telling us that their compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations does not prove our water is safe?
Why is WASA not telling us the truth about the dangers of lead in water?
Learn more about WASA's myths and facts and how you can take action.
Lead in the Water in Washington DC Public Schools 2004-2007
Understanding Sampling Issues in DCPS
This document features a table comparing lead sampling based on the standard EPA lead-in-schools protocol, versus the various non-standard protocols employed by DCPS, which relied on technical misinformation supplied by WASA/EPA Region III since 2004. It highlights specific steps added to the standard EPA protocol that lead to misleading results. In addition, it offers simple definitions of technical terms, which are necessary to understand, so that one can see how lead can be made to look lower in water during sampling, relative to levels present in the water when our children drink it.
Understanding the Problem of Pre-Cleaning
This is a set of slides that focuses on the specific issue of "pre-flushing" or "pre-cleaning" pipes the eve before lead sampling. It contradicts recent assertions by EPA Region III that pre-cleaning is an innocent (or even desirable) extra step that will not impact lead-at-the-tap levels measured in water.
Tale of Two Cities
This table compares EPA Region III's handling of lead in school water for Washington, DC versus Philadelphia, PA. It highlights a perplexing double standard applied by EPA Region III when it comes to the issue of lead in Washington DC water -- the double standard is especially troubling given that EPA Region III has primacy (and therefore has oversight and enforcement responsibilities similar to that of a state EPA or Health Agency) for water quality in DC.
Letter to the EPA Region III
Coalition email sent on April 27, 2007 to Ms. Karen Johnson, Chief, Safe Drinking Water Act Branch, EPA Region III requesting that EPA Region III immediately recommend that DCPS retests all DC public schools for lead in the water, using the standard EPA lead-in-schools protocol.
You will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader properly installed to view PDF documents. You can get it free from Adobe.
Get the lead out of DC's drinking water
U.S. House Testimony, May 21, 2004
Paul Schwartz, CWA National Policy Coordinator, and Katherine Funk, a DC resident whose drinking water has elevated lead levels (pictured with her daughter), testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform. They both spoke about the need for the Lead-free Drinking Water Act of 2004 and the state of the current lead crisis in Washington DC. View Paul Schwartz testimony
Organizations and Individuals are Speaking Out: Lead Emergency Action for the District (L.E.A.D.)
PureWaterDC.com was formed in response to this issue. Please visit their site to sign a petition and view relevant news articles and other information.
WaterForDCKids.org - Two DC parents created this site with information and a web-based letter writing campaign.
Lead Tests and Information
The DC Water and Sewer Authority is encouraging customers to contact its Lead Services Hotline at (202) 787-2732 or email WQP2003@dcwasa.com if you have questions about whether a lead service line serves your home. WASA will provide a free testing kit within two days, free pick-up and test results within 30 days.
The DC Department of Health is asking pregnant women or families with children under six to contact them for a free blood test at 202-671-0733.
CWA National Policy Coordinator Paul Schwartz testified before a special DC City Council Hearing on February 4, click here to view his testimony (PDF).
The Campaign for Safe and Affordable Drinking Water has produced a fact sheet on lead in drinking water that includes actions you can take right now.
Background
WASA indicated increases in lead problems in its 2003 "Consumer Confidence" or "Right to Know" report. See NRDC's June 2003 What's On Tap report for analysis of what public information sources indicate about DC water and lead and see CWA's June 2003 statement on DC water (PDF) and the What's on Tap report release.
note: PDF links are Adobe Acrobat files, if needed, you may download Acrobat Reader for free.
Home Filtration Devices
Some home devices are certified to remove or reduce lead; "reverse osmosis" filters and water distillation units, as well as some carbon or charcoal filters, are options to consider if tests show lead in your water. The National Sanitation Foundation International (877-867-3435) sets standards and certifies drinking water filters and other home treatment methods. Read the claims and instructions carefully on any device you are considering purchasing, and maintain it according to manufacturer's instructions.
Get the Lead Out of Our Drinking Water!
We need to make sure that the DC City Council and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do everything in their power to protect drinking water consumers from lead contamination and to address the lead situation quickly and effectively.
Letters from citizens are very effective. Please take action today to demand protection and accountability.
Ask your City Council member and at-large members to:
- Provide immediate assistance (water and blood tests and a safe water supply) for all people drinking contaminated water, including those who have copper pipes and live in multi-family dwellings.
- Support the Citizen Water Utility Board Amendment Act of 2004 (B15-753) to establish an independent citizen board to oversee the city's water supply and make sure that citizens' voices are heard around lead and other critical water and sewer issues facing the District.
Write to:
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20004
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has primary responsibility for protecting DC's drinking water. Tell the EPA to take immediate enforcement action against WASA and the Washington Aqueduct to ensure that health is protected.
Write to:
Administrator Michael Leavitt
Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington DC 20004
- Do NOT boil water in an attempt to reduce lead!
- Use only cold water for cooking & drinking. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead. Infants and pregnant women should consume home filtered or bottled water.
- Running water (flushing) reduces lead levels. WASA and EPA are suggesting drawing and collecting water for drinking and cooking after another high water use activity (such as bathing or washing clothes), so that a total of at least 10 minutes of flushing has occurred. Be sure to run any tap that is being used for water to flush a half gallon of water.
- For all consumers, they are recommending flushing pipes for 60 seconds if water has not been in use for six hours or more. (If you live in an apartment complex, running the water before drinking or using it may not lower lead levels.)
Green Scissors Report: Save Money AND Protect The Environment
Born out of the partisan budget fights that echoed through the federal government in the 1990's, the Green Scissors campaign unites the goal of environmental protection and fiscal responsibility. Since 1994, Green Scissors efforts have eliminated more than $26 billion in fiscally and environmentally harmful programs at the national level.
CWA joined sixteen other groups to issue a local version for 2003. Revenue shortfalls and pollution problems erode the economic and environmental stability of the nation's capital. The District of Columbia Green Scissors Report, released February 19th, offers solutions to help balance the budget and save the environment.
This report recommends:
- reducing the subsidy on parking in the District (which would raise an estimated $111 million while discouraging air-polluting auto commutes);
- sharing part of the city's costs for needed water infrastructure improvements with the suburbs that cause as much as 17% of stormwater and wastewater flow;
- fully implement and enforce the groundwater fee which would require large water users to pay for the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority to pump water from the bottom floors of these customers, mostly large corporations and office and apartment building owners.
The Green Scissors website has more information and free report downloads.
