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Councilmember Harold Brazil A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA To declare the sense of the Council on the need to allocate funds immediately, and to request that the Mayor include in his proposed Fiscal Year 2005 budget sufficient funds, to pay for the replacement of lead water service lines on the property of District residents. RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the "Sense of the Council on District Payment for the Replacement of Lead Service Lines on District Residents' Property Declaration Resolution of 2004". Sec. 2. The Council finds that: (1) Recent information from the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority ("WASA") has shown that there are high levels of lead in the drinking water of many residents of the District of Columbia. (2) High levels of lead can cause serious health problems, particularly in young children and pregnant women. (3) WASA has initiated a program to replace its lead service lines, but WASA will only replace the section of the lead service line from WASA's main line to a homeowner's property line. (4) WASA does not replace the portion of the lead service line that is on a homeowner's property i.e., the portion of the pipe from the property line to the home itself without payment by the homeowner. (5) It costs an average of $2,000 to replace the portion of the lead service line on the homeowner's property. (6) Many homeowners cannot afford to pay for the replacement of the portion of the line on their property. (7) A significant health risk will continue to exist if the lead service line on the homeowners' property remains. (8) This health risk will be increased because of the galvanic corrosion caused by the joining off copper and lead service lines. (9) It is very important that the entire lead service line be replaced, in order to protect the health of District residents, particularly young children and pregnant women. (10) WASA is currently in the process of replacing hundreds of its lead service lines, and the replacement process will continue for several years. Sec. 3. It is the sense of the Council that: (1) The Mayor should immediately initiate a reprogramming of Fiscal Year 2004 funds to pay for the replacement of lead service lines on the properties of District residents where WASA is replacing the portion of the lead service line from WASA's main service line to the homeowner's property line. (2) The Mayor should, if necessary, initiate the transfer of funds from the District's reserves to pay for the replacement of lead service lines on the properties of District residents where WASA is replacing the portion of the lead service line from WASA's main service line to the homeowner's property line. (3) The Mayor should include in his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2005 funds to pay for the replacement of lead service lines on the properties of District residents where WASA is replacing the portion of the lead service line from WASA's main service line to the homeowner's property line. (4) The District should allocate at least $20 million in the capital budget to pay for the replacement of lead service lines on the properties of District residents where WASA is replacing the portion of the lead service line from WASA's main service line to the homeowner's property line. Sec. 4. This resolution has no fiscal impact. A fiscal will be incurred, however, when the Council's recommendations in this resolution are implemented. Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register. |
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