Milwaukee – Street excavation has been taking place on South 5th street between Bruce street and Washington street to the south for some time. Upon completion businesses in the area will have a new road to help attract consumers looking to dine at one to the many restaurants that line south 5th in Walker’s Point.
However, during this construction period, the spokesperson for a group working to remove lead service lines in Milwaukee, urges caution when visiting restaurants where heavy construction is taking place because most restaurants on south 5th street have lead service lines supplying water to them.
“Street excavation or construction in any area of Milwaukee present an increased risk for spiking lead levels in the water where lead service lines supply water to that home or restaurant”, said Robert Miranda, spokesman for the Freshwater for Life Action Coalition (FLAC).
Miranda states that areas where street excavation or heavy construction is taking place should be closely monitored by City of Milwaukee health and Milwaukee Water Works officials.
“Lead service lines disturbed by the vibrations from pounding machinery breaking up concrete, cause the protective inner lining of phosphate inside the lead tube to loosen, causing lead to leach in the water”, Miranda said.
Miranda said that similar concerns were raised about construction work on south 13th street where heavy construction work removing sidewalk and street excavation raised concerns about spiking of lead in the water.
After informing city officials of the concern, Miranda said Milwaukee Water Works sent a team to south 13th street to test the water in the area to ensure spiking lead levels are not evident.
Miranda said that water testing of the many restaurants on south 5th street is needed as well.
“I called Alderman Perez and asked what does he know of the status of testing water on south 5th street. His reply was that he was unsure. I’ve since emailed him my concerns and have yet to hear if in fact water testing is taking place on south 5th street”, continued Miranda.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a study in 2013 indicating that road excavation or street construction is one way to disturb lead service lines.
The study points out that lead service lines disturbed by vibrations caused by construction in front of a building with lead service lines, increases the likelihood of lead leaching in the water.
Miranda states that he’s raising the level of precaution by city officials because practices in the past have been lax.
“Milwaukee over the years has been set in its ways doing just what is required of them to do as set by the EPA and the Lead Copper Rule (LCR). We are finding out now, after the Flint, Michigan crisis, that the LCR is weak and needs to be amended and that EPA water testing standards are just for guidance, and lack force to make water utilities step up testing of water standards, especially for homes and restaurants with lead service lines.”, Miranda said.
Miranda said he’s waiting for a response to a message via email he sent to Alderman Jose Perez asking Perez whether Milwaukee Water Works has moved to test the water on south 5th street.
