MILWAUKEE -- A new coalition of community groups in Milwaukee is expressing fresh concerns about Milwaukee's piping system that transfer fresh water to homes.
The Freshwater for Life Action Coalition - made up of nine organizations from the city's north and south sides including NAACP Milwaukee and the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin - is calling on the Department of Public Works to suspend road construction until engineers can ensure the construction doesn't negatively affect the pipes underground.
In a news conference on Thursday, coalition members expressed concern that the vibrations from construction equipment would loosen protective layering around the lead pipes.
"The City of Milwaukee cannot be considered the 'Fresh Water Capital' if [city leaders] cannot provide lead-free drinking water to the people living in its own backyard," Robert Miranda, a spokesperson for the coalition, exclaimed to TODAY'S TMJ4. "We need new testing of water immediately so we can see where we are for real."
Health officials agree that lead spiking in water can contribute to significant cognitive problems.
In a statement provided to TODAY'S TMJ4, a spokesperson for the City of Milwaukee says, "Mayor Tom Barrett has made and continues to make this issue a priority, as he works closely with local, state and federal agencies to identify ways to address lead service lines in Milwaukee. We will share our progress and provide up-to-date information with the public as it becomes available – the safety of our fellow residents is of the highest importance."
