City of Kalamazoo Observes National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
Published on October 22, 2024
The City of Kalamazoo Department of Public Services and Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) are observing this week as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. The October 20-26 observance is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s commitment for addressing ongoing lead exposure concerns. Information on the national observance can be found here.
Lead is a heavy metal that was used in construction and household paints before 1978. Although it has been banned in residential paint, it remains a hazard in older homes. Lead is dangerous for humans, especially in children. Even very low levels of lead in children’s bodies are linked to negative effects on intellect, concentration, behavior, and academic achievement. The most common ways to get lead poisoning are dust from friction surfaces and deteriorating paint throughout a home.
Kalamazoo’s observance will showcase Kalamazoo as a city committed to a lead safe community. This year’s observance also follows a community education event that occurred on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Edison Neighborhood Association, to mark the City of Kalamazoo’s 5,000th lead service line replacement. The community event featured Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House.
“We are strongly committed to a lead-safe community,” said James J. Baker, public services director and city engineer for the City of Kalamazoo. “It highlights what we’re doing to replace lead service lines. Since 2017, we’ve replaced an annual average of more than 500 non-copper water services.
"We’re thrilled to recently achieve 5,000 lead service line replacements and have the White House here to recognize our accomplishment,” added Baker. “Next month, we will begin lead service replacements in Edison. By December, we’ll be completing streets in the city’s Northside Neighborhood as well as in the West Douglas and Fairmont areas, and on the Westside. It’s full steam ahead toward our ultimate goal of replacing all estimated city 10,000 lead service lines within the next 10 years.”
While water is a major focus of lead removal initiatives, Kalamazoo also has other ways to combat the dangers of lead poisoning. The City, for example, began its Lead-Based Paint Hazard Remediation Program in 2018 through a partnership with KNHS Home Ownership Services (KNHS). The KNHS program addresses lead hazards in older homes at no cost to the resident. To date, 42 properties throughout Kalamazoo have been made lead safe with the program and more homes are in the works this year. Information on the remediation program and eligibility can be found here.
The City of Kalamazoo also provides free lead and copper testing to customers upon request. NSF Certified point-of-use filters are also provided at no charge to homes within the water supply system. Customers are urged to call 311 or (269) 337-8000 for questions about these services or to arrange for free lead sampling. Prioritized lead service line replacement is provided for any home testing above the action level.
More information on Kalamazoo’s ongoing commitment to protecting the community from lead hazards and replacing all lead water service lines can be found here. There also are several opportunities to learn about lead remediation in the home or lead abatement. Public Services and CPED will hold in December a free Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) training. Look for information soon on the date, time, and location. The City of Kalamazoo and the state of Michigan also seek persons interested in becoming a certified lead abatement professional. Learn more here.
Outside the City, Kalamazoo County has a Lead Poisoning Prevention Program including a designated nurse to help educate families about early lead testing and to decrease the incidence of lead poisoning in children. Information on the county program can be found here.