EPA Pushes States To Shed Light On Lead Data

After a year of shocking lead disclosures from Flint, MI, to the halls of Congress, the federal government is pushing for greater transparency around lead in drinking water.

“States have taken steps to address the risk of lead in drinking water after the crisis in Flint, Michigan, but more needs to be done to share key information with the public, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said [in July],” The Associated Press reported.

U.S. EPA officials sent out letters to state drinking water regulators urging them to make lead sampling results available to the public in online databases. Some states, including Illinois, already publish this data, according to the report. The EPA says a “substantial number” of states post this information.

Other states, including Iowa, have pushed back, arguing that information technology resources and privacy concerns pose hurdles to such transparency.

Deputy Assistant Administrator Joel Beauvais told the AP that these hurdles can be cleared. For instance, to sidestep privacy concerns, personal information can be redacted in online data, he said.

“It’s one of a number of transparency elements that we see as really important,” he said, per the report. “There might be a significant number of samples that are showing lead levels of concern and it’s important for the public to know that.”

The EPA is also urging utilities to inventory the location of lead service lines.

“Beauvais said those inventories are critical to ensure homes and buildings at the highest risk for lead are being tested as required. He said they also help utilities minimize service disruptions and know which areas should be the focus of replacement programs,” the report said.

The EPA previously contacted governors with concerns over lead levels in drinking water. The agency sent out two letters in the last week of February, including one from Beauvais to state water regulators, and one from EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to governors in every state, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The letter from Beauvais promised stricter oversight.

“The EPA's Office of Water is increasing oversight of state programs to identify and address any deficiencies in current implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule,” it said.

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