‘Filter first’ bills signed to ensure clean water in schools ⋆ Michigan Advance

Michigan Legislation to Protect Children from Lead Contaminated Water

Gov. Whitmer signed off Thursday on a bipartisan package of bills to protect Michigan children from lead contaminated-water. 

The Clean Drinking Water Act

• Mandates the installation of filtered-faucets in Michigan schools and childcare centers
• Requires the development of a drinking water management plan
• Mandates routine sampling and testing to ensure safe drinking water for children

“Flint has paid an unimaginable price for water contamination. This is why I continue to push legislation that focuses on clean water and why this filter first bill package has been a priority for me. We must take steps to protect Michiganders from harmful contaminants — especially our kids,” state Rep. Cynthia Neeley (D-Flint), the lead sponsor of one of the three bills in the package, said in a statement.

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“Lead poisoning can have devastating effects on the health and development of our kids. Having a drinking water management plan ensures the most up-to-date strategies and tools are in place to ensure safe water sources. I am elated that these bills are now signed into law,” Neeley said. 

Support and Recognition

• The Michigan Environmental Council and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) praised the legislation
• Michigan becomes the first state to implement a solution that removes lead from drinking water in schools and childcare centers
• The legislation is considered a national model for protecting children from lead exposure

“Michigan will become the first state to implement a solution that actually gets lead out of drinking water in schools and childcare centers while delivering dramatic cost savings,” said Joan Leary Matthews, senior attorney with the NRDC in a statement.

“The state has enacted landmark legislation that is the national model for protecting kids from lead in schools. These laws go straight to the solution by proactively requiring the installation of lead-removing filters without first testing for lead that will inevitably be found,” Matthews said. 

In a statement, the Michigan Environmental Council also noted that so far $50,000 has been set aside in the state budget to offset the costs of implementing these bills. 

“There has not been a bigger moment in the lead poisoning fight since lead paint was banned 45 years ago,” Charlotte Jameson, chief policy officer for the Michigan Environmental Council said in the statement. “Momentum is on our side. We can make lead poisoning history, not current reality.”

Whitmer also recently signed bills guaranteeing lead screenings for all children between 12 and 24 months of age. Lawmakers are also working to pass legislation that would have more homes tested and treated for lead contamination. 

Governor Whitmer’s Statement

“Every parent wants to make sure their kids are healthy, and today’s bills ensure that our kids have safe and clean drinking water when they sip from the drinking fountain,” Whitmer said in a statement on Thursday.

“In Michigan, we have seen the devastating and long-lasting impact of lead exposure, and we are committed to making sure no child has to suffer through this again,” Whitmer said.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
   • Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
   • Indicator 6.1.2: Proportion of population with access to safely managed sanitation services.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
   • Indicator 3.9.2: Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation, and lack of hygiene (exposure to contaminated water, lack of sanitation facilities, or inadequate hygiene).

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under SDG 6 are Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The specific target under SDG 3 is Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
• Indicator 6.1.2: Proportion of population with access to safely managed sanitation services.
• Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
• Indicator 3.9.2: Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation, and lack of hygiene (exposure to contaminated water, lack of sanitation facilities, or inadequate hygiene).

The article discusses the implementation of the Clean Drinking Water Act, which requires Michigan schools and childcare centers to install filtered-faucets, develop a drinking water management plan, and conduct routine sampling and testing to ensure safe drinking water. These actions contribute to achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water (Indicator 6.1.1) and ensuring the proportion of the population with access to safely managed sanitation services (Indicator 6.1.2).

The article also highlights the devastating effects of lead poisoning on the health and development of children. By addressing lead contamination in drinking water, the efforts described in the article contribute to reducing deaths and illnesses from unsafe water (Indicator 3.9.2).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators