Latest news with #Jarrells
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
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. Poisonous plant rapidly spreading across Ohio: what to do if you see it '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. Bexley Library patrons compete for limited digital access amid increased demand '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. Columbus firefighter arrested for allegedly owning child sex materials 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. Bexley Library patrons compete for limited digital access amid increased demand '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.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers want to replace all of the state's lead water lines
Drinking water photo from the Ohio Governor's Office. Ohio lawmakers are introducing a bipartisan bill they are hoping will not only improve the state's water quality, but also save lives. Ohio state Reps. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and Monica Robb Blasdel, R-Columbiana, are introducing the Lead Line Replacement Act. 'This legislation aims to keep our community safe and healthy by implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework to plan, execute, and assist in the replacement of all lead water lines in the state of Ohio,' Robb Blasdel said. 'Lead water lines are a relic of the past. However, despite the danger, we know these are still in use all across our state.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Ohio has 745,000 lead service lines and nearly 4,000 Ohio children are tested for high levels of lead poisoning, said Jarrells, who is a survivor of lead poisoning. 'Ohio is in a crisis,' he said. 'The number (of lead poisoning) is likely higher because of the reality that not every child in this state is tested.' The use of lead pipes was banned by Congress in 1986. In 2021, Ohio ranked third in the nation for the most lead pipes, according to the EPA. Lead is able to enter drinking water through the corrosion of lead or lead-contaminated water service lines. No amount of lead exposure is safe for children, the lawmakers said. 'Replacing each of these (lead lines) will be a challenging task, but one we firmly believe is attainable,' Robb Blasdel said. 'This bill would mandate local water providers to work with the state to identify these lines, develop a plan to replace these lines with safe alternatives, and execute this plan over a 15 year time period.' The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency would be responsible for overseeing enacting this mandate if the legislation passes. 'This bill also prohibits partial replacements that can make contamination worse,' Jarrells said. It would cost nearly $5 billion to remediate every single lead line in Ohio, he said. 'I didn't introduce this in the budget because I wanted to do the work to make it bipartisan,' Jarrells said. He put forth a similar bill during the last General Assembly, but it only had sponsor testimony in committee. 'This is necessary,' Jarrells said. 'This is a human issue, and to introduce this bill with bipartisan support, that's how we're going to ultimately see this bill become law.' Lawmakers say replacing Ohio's lead lines would lead to fewer cases of dementia, depression, anemia, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular mortality, infant mortality, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Lead poisoning poses a threat not just to children. Adults exposed to lead are more likely to experience increased risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, kidney and nervous system problems, said Annalisa Rocca, the drinking water manager for the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund. 'I grew up turning on the kitchen tap without a second thought, and most Ohioans still do the same, unaware that an unseen lead service line may be supplying their water,' she said. Archie Beasley, lead program director of the Junction Coalition, serves a Toledo neighborhood that has 100-year-old homes with lead lines underneath them that are transporting lead into kitchens and bathrooms. 'We're going to make sure that no child goes to their kitchen sink, that no child goes to their grandmother's kitchen sink and gets water out of the refrigerator, and they're going to be drinking lead water that is going to impact their health,' he said. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
