The DC Water and Sewer Authority recently received a report by DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice that examines the issue of lead in the District of Columbia’s drinking water.

While we have not had a chance to study the report in depth, we are disappointed that WASA was not interviewed for its report, “Lead in the District of Columbia Drinking Water: A Call for Reform.”

We look forward to examining it in depth and in exploring some of its recommendations with our Board and, of course, with our customers.

Our initial reaction is that WASA supports or already has implemented many of the recommendations. For example, we agree that the Federal Lead and Copper Rule, which sets standards on the amount of lead in drinking water, must be improved. Also, the issue of simultaneous compliance, when two or more Federal regulations produce unintended results, must be addressed.

In line with WASA’s Community Water Pledge, WASA is well into an aggressive, six-year, $300 million effort to replace all lead service lines on public property in the city.

We’re glad that DC Appleseed has joined in the dialogue on this complex issue and look forward to communicating with them in the weeks and months ahead.
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