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File #: 160089    Version: 0 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: LAPSED
File created: 1/28/2016 In control: Joint Committees on Children & Youth and Public Health & Human Services
On agenda: Final action:
Title: Authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth and the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to conduct hearings concerning best practices followed by the Philadelphia Water Department as well as additional measures to prevent lead exposure due to household water service lines.
Sponsors: Councilmember Gym, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Taubenberger, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Oh, Council President Clarke, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember O'Neill
Attachments: 1. Signature16008900.pdf
Title
Authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth and the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to conduct hearings concerning best practices followed by the Philadelphia Water Department as well as additional measures to prevent lead exposure due to household water service lines.

Body
WHEREAS, A man-made crisis in Flint, Michigan, wherein the city's water source was switched as a cost-saving measure without adequate testing or protective measures, has drawn national attention to the potential danger posed by water-borne lead; and

WHEREAS, Lead exposure has been demonstrated to have significant and permanent damaging effects on neurological development, particularly affecting babies and children; and

WHEREAS, Household water has been estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency to compose 10-20% of recorded human exposure to lead, and 40-60% for babies using formula; and

WHEREAS, Federal regulation through the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule prescribes a regime of testing as well as preventative and reactive measures in order to limit the presence of lead in household water; and

WHEREAS, Unlike the situation in Flint, the Philadelphia Water Department engages in regular lead testing and deploys anti-corrosion treatment to ensure water quality, as well as seeks to follow best practices in reducing the risk of lead exposure to safe levels; and

WHEREAS, Some dwellings within Philadelphia still contain aged lead service lines or lead components; and

WHEREAS, Homeowners and renters may not be aware of measures that can reduce lead exposure, ranging from pipe replacement to running water for set time periods before use; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia City Council has demonstrated that preventing lead exposure is a top priority; and

WHEREAS, Public education and an affirmative abatement regime are important components in further reducing the risk of lead exposure through water; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF T...

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