Reps. McNally, Jarrells & Community Organizations Highlight Societal, Economic Benefits of Passing Lead Line Replacement Act in Youngstown

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) and Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus), along with environmental advocates and community partners,  held a press conference Wednesday detailing the need to pass House Bill (HB) 534 - Ohio’s Lead Line Replacement Act. Ohio currently ranks second in the nation for the most lead pipes delivering water to families.

“When it comes to the government, it does not get more basic than the infrastructure that creates clean water. Clean water is the very essence of and fuel for our survival. It should be the bare minimum for the government to meet this basic need. Without it, the health outcomes and consequences are overwhelming and severe. That is why these water systems are a public good and why we have to view lead water pipes as a collective problem, one that needs partnerships and cooperation to solve,” said Rep. McNally. “Our city has real challenges. We have thousands and thousands of existing pipes and fewer water system users because of our population loss. Those pipes are getting older while those users, who generate the dollars needed to address these infrastructure issues, are leaving.  We are constantly financially struggling, receiving less and less in resources, while the strains become greater. That pinch harms our residents. Youngstown ranks 25th nationally for the most lead pipes in the nation and Ohio ranks 3rd.  The scale of the problem is big. And some problems are too big to tackle alone. We shouldn’t expect cities and towns to take this on without support.”

Exposure to lead, even at low levels, can cause serious health effects in all age groups — especially in children. 

“As a lead poisoning survivor, I’m not just speaking for myself-I’m speaking for every child who wakes up to drink a glass of water that could be poisoning them, and for every parent who fears the water from their tap may be robbing their child of a future,” said Rep. Jarrells. “HB 534 saves lives and the time for action is now.”

Removing these service lines is not only critical to protecting Ohioans from the threat of lead exposure in drinking water, but it comes with an extreme economic incentive for Ohio as well. A brand new report shows the monetized social benefit of replacement of lead pipes will grow Ohio’s economy by between $145 and $185B over the next 15 years. 

“Removing lead pipes benefits everyone across Ohio. The Lead Service Line Replacement Act is common-sense legislation to protect public health, create jobs, and ensure a healthy and safe future for Ohio families,” said Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund’s Christopher Cólon.

HB 534 includes key provisions that support workforce development and ensure low- and moderate-income customers will not be burdened by the cost of replacement. 

A livestream of Wednesday’s press conference can be viewed here.