The Milwaukee Post

May 5, 2017 • Milwaukee County Post • 17 Water: Report to be taken up by Milwaukee Common Council water-service line replacement program. Six hundred utility-owned service lines are being replaced through the funding. But Alderman Jim Bohl, who chaired the task force, is quick to point out the $3.9 mil- lion allocation is a drop in the bucket for an issue he described as "extremely complex." In an interview with the Post, Bohl, a Northwest Side alder- man, said the task force's fact-finding mis- sion for the better part of the past year put a spotlight on the chal- lenges surrounding lead-based infrastruc- ture. "Most of the time, we want things very simple, in black and white," Bohl said. "When you start getting into the weeds, however, you realize it's not simple." Bohl and other members of the task force compiled a list of 20 recommendations, which will go before the Common Council in the future in the hopes of giving the list more teeth on the road ahead. Tougher policies recommended The top item on the compilation is a call to strengthen municipal policies. It states, "The city should do all in its authority to accelerate the removal and/or rehabilitation of lead service lines within its jurisdiction." Another practical item on the list of rec- ommendations is aimed at the consumer and has a "buyer beware" message attached to it. Bohl said he encourages residents, partic- ularly those with known lead-based infra- structure, to be mindful when purchasing water filtration systems. "You should do your homework," Bohl said. "When you buy filtered water, it should say that it is from a lead-free source." With financial resources consistently tight for municipalities, the task force also is recommending the city work to continue forging relationships with organizations outside government. Ideally, the group hopes to work with foundations, corporations and, potentially, other governing entities to fast- track the lead infrastructure replacement efforts. Bohl said each of the 20 recommenda- tions has been carefully thought out, though he cautioned the list is not foolproof in erad- icating the presence of lead in the water sup- ply. The last item on the list of recommenda- tions, for instance, encourages Milwaukee Water Works and public works staffers to evaluate new technologies — including a new coating method — but Bohl said the effort is not a guarantee because there are unknowns about their true effectiveness. Moving forward, Bohl said he is hopeful further education on the magnitude of the issue will bring meaningful solutions to the surface. He said he hopes the discussion broadens beyond the laterals themselves as they are only part of the equation. "If everyone is focused on the lead serv- ice lines, we're only focused on the very tip of the iceberg," he said. Internal plumbing, for instance, can have lead, even if the municipality's connected lateral is not lead-based. The task force is recommending all prop- erty owners throughout the city test their internal plumbing to ensure lead is not leaching onto the municipal water supply. Other city officials intricately involved in the task force have also gone on record this week after the document was completed. Alderman Jose Perez, who also had a seat on the panel, described the group's efforts as "educational and productive" in a state- ment. "Our council legislative process must now move forward, and I look forward to possible future discussions about legislation from our report and recommendations that will help keep our water safe," Perez said in the statement. The full water quality report can be accessed via the city's website, www.ci.mil.wi.us. continued from Page 1 Bohl MILWAUKEE — Retired Green Bay Packers star safety LeRoy Butler will speak at 6 p.m. Monday at St. Thomas More High School, 2601 E. Morgan Ave. Members of the community are invited to attend the presentation, which is spon- sored by St. Thomas More's Center for Servant Leadership and Civic Engagement. Butler played 12 seasons with the Packers and was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2007. Growing up in poverty and spending much of his early childhood in a wheelchair, Butler will share how he kept a positive outlook while overcoming the many obstacles that he encoun- tered in his life. "LeRoy Butler has an incredible perspective on what it means to be a ser- vant leader," St. Thomas More Principal Nicholas Kelly said. "Our community will benefit tremendously from hearing his story of perseverance and passion." To ensure proper seating and accommodations, please RSVP to Katlyn Putney at putneyk@ tmore.org by Sunday. LeRoy Butler to speak at St.Thomas More

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