As the home of the Nation’s Capitol, access to clean and safe water should be a given. An aging and crumpling infrastructure has left Washington DC residents at risk. In 2003, the drinking water in the District exceeded federal levels for lead. Lead is a neurotoxin known to cause learning and behavioral disabilities, and is unsafe at any level in drinking water. Children and pregnant or nursing women are most vulnerable to the effects.

As a result of inadequate public education, residents did not become aware of the health risks until The Washington Post broke the story in early 2004. What followed was a flurry of finger pointing and, as a result, real steps have begun to be taken to adequately address the lead in drinking water issue in Washington, DC.

Clean Water Fund worked with other environmental, health and community groups, as well as concerned residents to urge decision makers in the City to take the appropriate steps to protect public health. In 2005, the City established the District Department of Environment, consolidating many City Departments to serve as one-stop-shop for programs and services that protect human health and the environment and address energy efficiency. The goal is to consolidate the City’s administration and oversight of environmental and energy programs, services, laws, and regulations.

A further step was taken earlier this year when the Washington, D.C. government agreed to, long overdue, independent testing for lead in the District’s drinking water, as well as a review of past and present monitoring and oversight of the problem. Clean Water Fund fully supports a independent testing and review of this long-standing problem.