Safe drinking water should take priority

Let's be blunt about the public health effects of lead-contaminated drinking water.

This dangerous metal is considered a neurotoxin that alters how a person's nervous system functions. Over time, it can cause serious brain damage, particularly among children. That's according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which helped pass the Clean Water Act of 1972 and fought on behalf of the residents of Flint, Michigan during that city's water crisis. 

Even trace amounts of lead in a child's bloodstream can lead to delayed growth and cognitive development, the council reports.  

The primary way lead gets into a person's system? Lead service pipes used to connect a home to a city's supply lines. 

"In many cities, the pipes that carry water from the street into homes are made of this dangerous metal, essentially acting like lead straws," the council reports, estimating that some 9 million lead service lines are still in use today in the U.S. 

The risk is nationwide, and Kalispell's older neighborhoods are not excluded. 

According to Kalispell Public Works' data, of the approximately 10,000 lines inventoried by the city, 49 pipes were classified as lead and 79 as galvanized. Another 715 have yet to be identified. 

The Environmental Protection Agency has required a complete inventory of the city's service lines by next month, with a mandate that all lead pipes be replaced by 2037. 

Councilors last week looked at an option to tap into a State Revolving Fund loan to help affected homeowners replace those dangerous service lines. According to Public Works staff, the replacement costs range from $5,000 to $17,000. Ouch! 

But with 60% loan forgiveness through the state plan, it was estimated that the city would be on the hook for $1.4 million to get the work done. That amount would come out of Kalispell's water fund, meaning no rate hikes would be necessary. 

Still, some councilors argued against using the loan program, saying that service lines are the responsibility of the homeowner. If the city's water fund is used to replace their lines, that means another project won't get done. 

Exactly what project are these councilors worried about funding that's more important than keeping neurotoxins out of their constituents' water? 

For some residents, the cost to replace the hazardous lines could break the monthly budget. As Councilor Ryan Hunter pointed out, homeowners may be forced to decide to keep their lead piping because they simply can’t afford replacement. 

Applying for the State Revolving Fund loan would be an easy way for Kalispell to take an active role in securing a healthy living environment for its residents — all without afflicting any financial pain. What's not to like about that?