A new study released today by the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group foundation, and environmental advocacy group gave Wisconsin state laws an "F" in preventing lead contamination in school drinking water.
Their report says:"Citing growing evidence of pervasive lead contamination in schools’ drinking water, the WISPIRG Foundation today launched a new Get the Lead Out campaign. While highlighting positive steps taken by the Department of Natural Resources and cities across the state to remove lead pipes from schools, daycares and homes, a new analysis by the group gave Wisconsin’s state laws a grade of “F” for failing to prevent children’s drinking water from becoming laced with lead at school.
In the WISPIRG Foundation’s comparison of 16 states and the District of Columbia, these shortcomings gave Wisconsin a failing grade. While Wisconsin has taken important steps to get rid of lead infrastructure, including in schools and daycares, through the Department of Natural Resources’ $14.5 million Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, these efforts do not make up for inadequate state laws and policies. 11 other states also received an “F” in the WISPIRG Foundation’s analysis."
Dr. Elizabeth Neary with the Wisconsin Environmental Health Network, Peng Her, Associate Director of the Center for Resilient Cities, and State Senator Chris Larson joined the WISPIRG Foundation in releasing the group’s new report, Get the Lead Out: Ensuring Safe Drinking Water for Our Children at School. The report was co-authored with the Wisconsin Environment Research and Policy Center.
