COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) – An Ohio lawmaker who suffered from lead poisoning as a child is aiming to eliminate all water pipes made from the metal in the state, calling the issue a “crisis.”
Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) introduced House Bill 534 in May, dubbed the Lead Line Replacement Act, which would replace Ohio’s over 745,000 lead service lines within 15 years. Lead in drinking water can cause behavioral issues and learning disabilities in children, as well as high blood pressure and stroke in adults among other effects, according to Princeton University.
Ohio holds more than 8% of all lead pipes in the country, despite making up 3.6% of the population, according to Jarrells. The state has the third highest amount of lead pipes in the country, a 2023 report by the Environmental Protection Agency found. When it comes to cities’ water systems, Cleveland has the second-highest number of lead pipes nationwide, and Columbus the 15th, according to the agency.
“Our plan is to replace every lead service line in the state over the next 15 years, and that literally is going to change the trajectory of families all across Ohio,” Jarrells said. “We’re talking about preventing 640 infant deaths, saving over 9,000 separate lives from heart disease, reducing 3,800 cases of depression, and boosting the IQs of every single child.”