Jackson creates legislation to test for lead contamination in children’s drinking water

This afternoon, State Representative Carolyn Jackson's (D-Hammond) House Bill 1138 was approved unanimously by the Environmental Affairs Committee. The bill will test drinking water in childcare and preschool facilities for lead contamination.

“Children who are sent to these facilities every day count on accessible safe drinking water to consume,” Jackson said. “The last thing that should be on our mind is whether a toxin is being ingested. There are too many kids in Hammond, the rest of House District 1 and Indiana who are being threatened by lead. This danger is forever persistent unless we find the sources and eliminate them.”

Lead consumption is incredibly dangerous as it accumulates over time. There are several links to permanent impacts on neurological development, the most common being learning and behavioral problems.

“From birth to five years old, a child undergoes one of their most crucial developmental stages in every aspect and the water they drink now will affect their health’s trajectory for the rest of their life. We must make sure children are consuming quality water for optimal health and growth. Right now the presence of lead is uncertain– buildings with older infrastructure are at a higher risk and newer buildings are not any safer. Lead can come from anywhere, even through pipes down the street where water is being supplied. Simply put, no building is safe, and it is necessary to test all these facilities to find this hazard and have peace of mind.”