FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DATE: March 21, 2016

CONTACT: Ian Gavigan (ian.gavigan@phila.gov), 215.686.3408
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES DELIVER ON PROMISES TO ADVANCE WATER SAFETY
PHILADELPHIAToday, the City Council Committees on Public Health and Human Services and
Children and Youth held a public hearing on water safety and best practices for the Philadelphia Water
Department to prevent lead exposure in Philadelphias outdated infrastructure. Experts discussed the
problem of lead in schools and students limited access to safe drinking water.
Representatives from the Philadelphia Water Department, School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia
Federation of Teachers, Drexel University, Penn Environment, Youth United for Change, the Coalition of
100 Black Woman, CHOP PolicyLab, and the Education Law Center submitted testimony regarding the
state of lead exposure for high-risk communities in the city and strategies to reduce it.
Several major announcements were made during the hearing in response to requests by committee
members:

The Water and Public Health Departments committed to expanding testing and oversight of lead
exposure in child care centers.
The Water Department also announced that its planned expansion of zero-interest loans for
homeowners to replace lead service lines will be rolled out this year.
The School District committed to a full inventory of District water fountains.

In the wake of the water crisis in Flint and the revelation that the Newark School District has been
forced to shut off water fountains in 30 buildings due to increased lead levels in the school water system,
its critical for Philadelphia to pay special attention to the risks of lead for our youth, said
Councilwoman Helen Gym, chair of the Committee on Children and Youth. I am pleased to hear about
the announcements made today, especially the Districts commitment to addressing access to safe,
drinkable water in every single water fountain.
I want to emphasize that there is a lot of work to be done by the Philadelphia Water Department. I came
into this hearing thinking that the Department didnt have major issues; coming out of it I have many new
questions. We need policies and efforts to address the ongoing issues of lead and water access in our city,
especially in child care centers, schools, and the homes of our most vulnerable residents, said Cindy
Bass (8th Dist.), Chair of the Committee on Public Health and Human Services.
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