Justin Sondel
Town of Tonawanda residents have a job to do and their health might depend on it.
Town officials are asking residents to help them conduct a federally mandated inventory of all water line material in the town.
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the administration of President Biden in 2021 announced a plan that will remove all lead water service lines throughout the country by 2037. The town, in an effort to reach that goal and comply with the mandate, has already completed an inventory of more than half of its 23,821 service lines in the water system, finding only four lead service lines in the more than 12,000 inspected, according to a news release from the town.
Now they are asking residents to examine their own water lines and submit the results through an online form.
Town Board member Jill O'Malley, who chairs the water resource committee, said members of her water resource team, including Director of Water Resources Mike Kessler and Assistant Town Engineer Noelle Sawicki, have done a great job putting together the program. Because of their hard work the town is well ahead of schedule in complying with the mandate.
People are also reading... Mother and her 2 children believed to have gone over Niagara Falls 'Literally always smiling': Young mother in Niagara Falls tragedy remembered Three questions: Assessing Keon Coleman, the Bills' luck and the AFC East 'Violence is way too common': Buffalo superintendent, East teacher respond after MLK Park assault Bills Mailbag: How have the team's departed free agents fared in their new homes? Buffalo attorney suspended from practicing law for 2 years for errors defending WUFO against lawsuit Christ the King Seminary sold for $4.2 million to religious organization Report Card: Dominant performance in a hostile environment earns Bills straight A's Taron Johnson a boost to Bills versus Dolphins; WR Amari Cooper questionable Baskin billed campaign more than 80 times for meals and fundraisers Ryan O'Halloran: After another Bills blowout win, not too early to start thinking about Chiefs, playoffs Mister Sizzle's closes Hamburg location in midst of lawsuit This week in Buffalo food: Roseland's Atlas opens with Italian takeout menu on West Side Bills rookie receiver Keon Coleman's bubbly personality already appealing to sponsors Politicians balk at plan to close nursing home: 'An outrageous decision that has to be reversed'
"I'm a parent, obviously, of three children that live here, and we're always concerned about these sorts of health issues," O'Malley said. "But, we believe that a good, solid education campaign will keep some of the questions down so people understand why this is being initiated."
Lead poisoning has long been a public health issue and came to the fore of national consciousness after the Flint, Mich., water crisis of 2014, when the city there switched water supply systems from the Detroit system to a system out of the Flint River in an effort to save money. City officials ignored signs of water quality issues, including elevated levels of lead in children. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health issues such as brain damage and damage to the kidneys and nervous system, especially in small children.
O'Malley, a biology professor at SUNY Erie Community College, said the town has fewer issues than some municipalities that required the use of lead pipes for construction for a period. And she wants the public to understand that few lead supplies have been found in the town and that doctors regularly screen for elevated levels of lead in children.
"I know that there are protocols in place for children to be regularly monitored by their pediatricians," O'Malley said. "I think parents who have concerns about that should definitely speak to their health care providers."
The town will mail letters to property owners with detailed instructions on how to identify lead water service lines and a link to submit results online in mid-November.
Town residents should call the Water Quality Initiative Information Line at 716-370-2176 and leave a message, or they can email questions to [email protected]. Results for the initial survey can be viewed at gis1.tonawanda.ny.us/portal/apps/sites/#/tonawanda-lcrr-hub.
0 Comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Justin Sondel Author email Follow Justin Sondel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today