BobBowcock

The damage to the infrastructure in many areas will be permanent, requiring the pipes and fittings to be replaced with new construction. What causes me a great deal of concern is the consumers have not been given proper direction or assistance to replace their damaged plumbing in their homes and businesses. We have all seen the red, brown, and black water in the distribution systems... this sludge has settled in every hot water heater in town. The sludge is also full of heavy metals which feed bacteria... which will also cause recontamination... again and again until serviced or replaced.

Worse...

I visited Port Lucie last year... and literal just cried. Erin and I will be focusing on that issue for the coming year.

No... anything the water corroded, or filled with sludge or sediment. Much of the system is in great shape. But inside homes and businesses... pretty much a total loss.

Actually yes... Washington, D.C., 2001-2004...

But history repeats itself... Washington, D.C. is in CRISIS TODAY... but they are lying and denying!

The discovery of widespread lead contamination in Washington, D.C. drinking water resulted in a U.S. Congressional investigation that damaged the scientific reputation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), left thousands of children with lifelong health risks, and led to a re-evaluation of the use of chloramine in public drinking-water systems.

Our same Dr. Marc Edwards (Flint-Crusader), an expert in plumbing corrosion, discovered lead levels at least 83 times higher than the accepted safe limit while performing research into premature pipe corrosion for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA).

Dr. Edwards found that the decision to change from using chlorine to chloramine as a treatment chemical had caused the spike in lead levels. After the Washington Post ran a series of front-page articles about Edwards's findings, resulting in widespread public concern, the United States House of Representatives conducted an investigation. The House found that the CDC had made "scientifically indefensible" claims in a report that had indicated there was no risk from the high lead levels. The Post investigation uncovered evidence of widespread misreporting of lead levels at water agencies across the United States, leading to regulatory crackdowns and changes in Environmental Protection Agency policies.

The problem was addressed in 2004 by adding additional treatments to the water, preventing the chloramine from dissolving lead in the water mains, solder joints, and fixtures.

In 2010, the CDC reported that 15,000 homes in the Washington, D.C. area might still have water supplies with dangerous levels of lead.

Amen... you are singing my song. I have talked about infrastructure replacement using a "bounty" program. We give tax intensives to people for putting solar panels on their homes... why not rebates for lead water line replacements.

As for the larger municipal distribution systems... let’s look to real property tax assessments (done right). Too many big corporations move to town... causing distribution systems to be over built... then close down and stop paying the water bill. If it were tied to the property... and not the commodity.... the people wouldn't get stuck with the bill.