Government of the District of Columbia
Executive Office of the Mayor
Office of Communications
Tony Bullock
Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2004 |
CONTACT: TONY BULLOCK
202-727-6846
PAT WHEELER
(WASA)
202-787-2200
JO'ELLEN COUNTEE
(EMA)
202-727-2985, EXT. 1137 |
Mayor Williams Directs WASA to Ship Water Filters Directly to Affected Homes
All 23,000 Homes with Lead Service Lines to Receive Lead-Certified Water Filters
(Washington, DC) Mayor Anthony A. Williams announced today that he has directed officials from the Washington Area Sewer Authority (WASA) to make immediate arrangements to ship water filters to all 23,000 homes that have been identified as having lead service lines. Homes with lead service lines pose the greatest risk of contamination of drinking water.
"We are not getting out these filters fast enough," said Mayor Williams. "It is not reasonable to expect citizens to come to us and get filters. It is much faster and far more efficient to ship filters directly to the homes."
The District has received donations of 10,600 water filter pitchers from The Brita Products Company. An additional donation from another source is expected later this week. The combination of the two contributions should provide enough filters to accommodate all of the homes with lead service lines.
"Until the problems with water chemistry can be resolved, all residents with lead service lines should take the precaution of filtering their water for drinking purposes," said Mayor Williams. "This is especially important for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children under the age of six."
WASA officials will work with the DC Emergency Management Agency and the Office of the City Administrator to expedite the delivery of the filters.
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