I am livid.

[Suspicious]

From my local newspaper ( http://www.lsj.com/news/local/040716_lead_1a-7a.html )

About 5,000 of the 14,000 Lansing homes scheduled to have their water service lines replaced contain all lead piping and have the greatest potential for tainted water, Board of Water and Light officials said Thursday.

But even if those homeowners call the utility, BWL officials will not tell them they have the most potentially dangerous systems.

"We are treating all 14,000 with any lead in their water service lines with equal importance," said John Strickler, spokesman for the taxpayer-owned utility.

The BWL on Thursday sent letters to the homes notifying them that they have some degree of lead in their service lines - a move that comes at least 12 years after the utility identified the lines it planned to replace across the city.

I received the letter today. My kids drink this water - and these idiots have know about this since 1992.

What right did they have to keep this information from us, and what right do they have to refuse to release the information now to the residents who "have the most potentially dangerous systems"?

:mad:

[GOPisEvil]

1. Damn! I'd be furious, too.

That is unconscionable! But, I'm guessing this was a financial decision: it was cheaper for them to wait. Bastards.

[burrowowl]

2. The pipes should be replaced

but it may not be as bad as you think, the scale on the pipes seals in the lead a bit. Get your kids teted for lead.

[Canuckistanian]

3. Get your water tested!

Right now, by an independant lab!

[FighttheFuture]

4. Fuck the pipes, got you and your kids tested!! Then get a good lawyer!

[Suspicious]

8. : )

I work with several of those...

I am definitely having the kids tested.

[TroubleMan]

5. Where's Erin Brockovich when you need her?

or how about Johnny Cochran?

[northzax]

6. or just buy a Brita

and consider it part of doing business in America.

The odds are very high that there is no lead in your actual water, but if you have lead piping in your home, it might be worse. get it tested, sure, but honestly you most likely have minor cause for concern.

look, I'm not an apologist for the water company, but I grew up in a home with lead service lines and somehow managed to not get poisoned. but get a brita anyway.

[Suspicious]

7. Well, that makes me feel a bit better.

I grew up in a home with lead service lines and somehow managed to not get poisoned.

You've been tested, I take it?

My main concern is for my kids.

[northzax]

9. as a kid several times

and I managed to not have any major developmental disabilities to boot (caveat: as an adult, I have been diagnosed, although it is disputed, with ADD, I myself don't believe it, but whatever, plus I blame it more on familial alcoholism than lead) All the lead would have leached out of my system by now, anyway.

remember, before about 1970 every house was painted with lead, every car ran on leaded gasoline, every water main was soldered with lead. don't panic, get the water and your children tested (your doctor can do the children quickly, cheaply and painlessly) and the water can be done at almost any lab (call the water company, they will give you a list, or google it) until the test results come back, use filtered water, but don't panic. remember, if you and your family have been drinking contaminated water for years, another couple of weeks of filtered water isn't a problem. relax.