Wednesday, June 15, 2016

City of Milwaukee Facing Controversy Over Lead Lateral Service Pipe Hazard

Lead lateral service pipes in 70,000 homes deemed a potential hazard to the health of children and adults, if not replaced by City.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 15, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - The Freshwater for Life Action Coalition (FLAC) announced it will hold a press conference tomorrow, June 16th, at the Wisconsin African American Women's Center located at 3020 W. Vliet Street at 12:00 p.m.
According to a press release, the Milwaukee - FLAC will be issuing a statement regarding the status of the City of Milwaukee lead lateral service pipe hazard.
The coalition was created earlier this year to address the hazard of lead which threatens the health of Milwaukee families' drinking water.
Members of this coalition have been at the forefront of the lead lateral service pipe dilemma in the City of Milwaukee since the announcement of over 70,000 homes with lead lateral service pipes was publicized.
"Testing the water and blood lead levels is only the tip of the iceberg. Our coalition over the past few months has been on a fact finding effort we shared with other groups and now we will share with the public", said Robert Miranda, FLAC spokesperson. 
Currently, street and sidewalk construction is taking place in Milwaukee's Southside and residents along South 13th Street between W. Rogers and W. Becher have not been notified of the potential hazard and the City hasn't tested the water for lead levels during the construction, according to Miranda. The hazardous toxic lead pipes can spike dangerous levels of lead when construction and vibration loosens spikes of lead in the water flow to homes.
Recently, the Riverside neighborhood underwent street and sidewalk construction and residents weren't warned by the City or their alderman about the potential water lead spikes during vibration and their water wasn't tested for potential dangerous lead levels as well.

Members of the coalition include:
Mr. Fred Royal - NAACP, Milwaukee Branch
Rev. Willie Brisco - WISDOM
Dr. Pat McManus - Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin
Student Minister William Muhammad - Justice or Else Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
Ms. Brenda Bell-White - Justice or Else Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
Ms. Laura Manriquez - Southside Advocates For A Better Environment (SAFE)
Former Alderwoman, Atty. Larraine McNamara McGraw – Horizons Law Group, LLC
Mr. Rodney Washington - Environmental Activist
Mr. Robert Miranda - Wisconsin Spanish Journal
Mr. Chris Johnson – KINGFISHmke

For more information about the FLAC press conference, Robert Miranda can be contacted at 414-469-4182 or info@kingfishmke.com

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