Your mayor needs to hear from you! Mayors will have the final say in how Lead Pipe Replacement federal funding is used in your city. Let them know that to best protect your community, you need Filtered Not Bottled water and Plastic-Free Pipes.
1. Click here to find your mayor’s contact information.
2. Copy the message below and email it to your mayor now!
Subject Line: Don’t Replace Lead Pipes with Plastic Pollution
Dear Mayor {Name of Mayor},
As a resident of {Name of City}, I am emailing you with a few requests that will protect the health and safety of our community during the lead pipe replacements.
As you know, there are millions of service lines that are made of lead in the United States. Lead is a dangerous toxic chemical that can damage the kidneys and affect brain development. Even low levels of exposure to lead can have serious health consequences. The federal government recently approved $15 billion dollars to replace lead service lines. This money will be provided to states either as grants or low-interest loans.
I am worried about my family and my community and urge you to quickly and efficiently allocate the federal resources for lead service line replacements in our city. These resources are essential to protecting the health and safety of our families and communities.
In order to protect communities that are affected by lead in the service lines, I have two requests:
1. Ensure that all households undergoing lead service line replacements are provided with options for Filtered, Not Bottled water before, during, and up to six months after the lead service lines are replaced. During the replacement procedure, lead may become displaced in the water system; therefore, filters should also be used for six months after the replacements. If filters are not applicable to our water system, funds should be used to provide filtered water via water buffalos, tanks, or reusable water bottles. Single-use plastic water bottles should not be used during lead pipe replacement as single-use plastic bottles pose risks to consumers and the environment throughout their entire existence. Many single use plastic water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which can be an endocrine disruptor. Plastic production also harms frontline communities, and the majority of plastic waste ends up polluting our air, soil, and water.
2. Replace the lead pipes with non-toxic, Plastic-Free Pipes. Our community should utilize safe, sustainable alternatives such as recycled copper. Plastic materials, such as PVC and other plastic alternatives, have been shown to leach chemicals into water. The production and disposal of single-use plastics also pollutes the air, soil, and water in frontline communities across the country. Our city must opt for safe materials that do not pose additional health consequences.
Thank you for prioritizing our health and taking the crucial step to replace lead pipes in our city.
Sincerely,
{Your Name}