Bates Area Civic Association

Ward 1 Councilmember Graham comments on this article: » CDC misled District residents about lead levels in water, House probe finds

Dear Friends:

Yesterday Ireleased a statement in response to an article in The Washington Post. The article reveals that the Centers for Disease Control misled the District about lead levels in our drinking water. They issued incomplete reports and covered it up.

The article confirms what I have been saying since 2004. Our children were exposed to dangerous levels of lead in our water. To now learn that the Centers for Disease Control not only got it wrong but may have intentionally misled District residents and our water agency is the ultimate betrayal of the public trust.

In more than 10 hearings about lead levels from 2004 to 2007, I hounded WASA officials about lead levels. Each time we were assured by WASA officials, relying on the CDC’s reports, that the water was safe. This was in stark contrast to reports from scientists and advocates.

In February 2008, WASA, once again despite widespread concern, assured my committee and the Council the drinking water was safe. I demanded WASA and the newly formed District Department of Energy separately to conduct analyses of the drinking water. Neither conducted studies. DDOE did form the Water Quality Task Force. Sadly, this group has foundered without the resources or WASA determination.

In April 2008, I expressed serious concern about the effect WASA’s partial-lead replacements were having on the city’s drinking water. The WASA board voted to modify this practice in September 2008, based on my concerns, which turned out to be accurate (as the Post story confirmed).

I have championed the fight against dangerous lead-levels in District homes since the introduction of my first bill (The Lead Inspection and Turnover Act of 1999). I will continue to do so for our children.

WASA must conduct water safety tests now.

Bests,

Councilmember Jim Graham