Lawmakers propose replacing Ohio's lead pipes
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio has one of the highest numbers of lead pipes in the nation, so lawmakers are trying to fix that; for some, it is personal.
'I didn't know that I was going to fight for my life and the culprit was lead, lead poisoning,' Ohio Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (R-Columbus) said.
Jarrells said when he was growing up, like for many families now, getting a glass of water at home was never a second thought.
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'Back then, I didn't know the name of this silent threat that invaded our home,' he said. 'I didn't know that it would show up in our doctor's office, I didn't know it would show up in my speech therapy class.'
But now, he said his story has given him purpose, to try and fight for other Ohio families and children.
'This is silently killing our children and futures of Ohio,' he said. 'Nearly 4,000 of Ohio's children are tested for high levels of lead poisoning, and the number is likely higher because of the reality that not every child in this state is tested.'
Ohio still has an estimated 745,000 lead water service lines, accounting for more than 8% of all lead pipes in the country. The state ranks third highest for the number of lead pipes, only behind Illinois and Florida.
That's why Jarrells and Ohio Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) are sponsoring the Lead Line Replacement Act.
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'No amount of lead exposure is safe for our children,' Blasdel said.
The bill would mandate that local water producers work with the state to identify where the lead lines are and develop a plan to replace them. The bill adds a 15-year deadline to get all lead pipes in the state replaced.
'No more patchwork repairs, no more half fixes, no more kicking the can down the road,' Jarrells said. 'We're going to get this right for families and children.'
Annalisa Rocca, drinking water manager for the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund, pointed out that for children under six, elevated levels of lead can cause impaired brain development and lower intelligence. But she said it doesn't only hurt children.
'Adults are more likely to experience increased risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and kidney and nervous system problems when exposed to lead,' Rocca said.
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Archie Beasley, program director of the Junction Coalition, said even the smallest amount of lead can have a huge effect.
'A pack of salt [worth of lead] can contaminate Ohio stadium,' he said.
'There's a lot more than just salt packets running through our water right now,' Jarrells said.
Replacing all the lead pipes in the state will not come cheap. Over the 15-year period, it is estimated to cost $5 billion to replace every single one. Jarrells and Blasdel said, though, for every $1 that goes towards replacing a pipe, the state will recoup $32 to $45 in public health outcomes and economic return.
'And over 15 years, this investment can grow Ohio's economy by more than $185 billion,' Jarrells said.
The price tag gives some leaders pause.
'A number like that means one of two things: it means a substantial tax increase some place or diminution of services on another side,' Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said.
The sponsors said the plan is to pool resources that state already has, like federal dollars and the money in H2Ohio that is dedicated for lead pipe replacements, as a start. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also pointed to H2Ohio and the work that has already gone into replacing lead pipes.
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'Good, clean water is vitally important,' DeWine said. 'And we need to do as much as we can in that area.'
But H2Ohio faces an uphill battle right now. The program, created by DeWine, faces a cut in funding of nearly 50% during the next two years. DeWine said the potential cut concerns him.
'We need to keep moving on [lead pipe replacements], we need to be steady every single year and make progress in that regard,' DeWine said.
'We don't need another task force, we don't need another group of folks that come together and talk about this issue; we need action,' Jarrells said. 'This is something that needs to be done. This is not a vision for the future. This is necessary for the future.'
The bill must get through both the Ohio House and Senate. It awaits its first committee hearing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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