HomeMy WebLinkAbout671-13 Safe Drinking Water RESOLUTION NO.671-13
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ZEPHYRHILLS, FLORIDA URGING
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO AMEND SECTION 1417
OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT, SPECIFICALLY THE REDUCTION
OF LEAD IN DRINKING WATER ACT, ENACTED ON JANUARY 4, 2011,
THEREBY SUPPORTING THE CITY OF ZEPHYRHILLS AND ITS
RESIDENTS WITH CONTINUED ECONOMICAL, EFFICIENT, AND SAFE
UTILITY SERVICES
Whereas,the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act(Act)was enacted on January 4,2011 to amend
Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act(SDWA)which covers the use and introduction into
"commerce"of lead pipes,plumbing fittings or fixtures, solder and flux.
Whereas,the Act changes the SDWA definition of"lead free"and established a prospective effective
date of January 4,2014 which applies both tq introduction into commerce and the use(installation)of
previously purchased products by municipalities(EPA's Frequently Asked Questions, October 22,2013).
Whereas,many small and rural communities have existing purchased inventories of drinking water
system components that will be prohibited for use after January 4,2014.Utilization of these inventories
would, 1)not result in communities violating the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency's(USEPA)lead
safety level for drinking water,2)save consumers(many in economically disadvantaged communities)
needed money for other priority expenditures, and 3)not result in any commercial sale of the components
(already purchased).
Whereas,the City of Zephyrhills is estimated to have over$70,000.00 in inventory of leaded brass
components,including fire hydrants,that would need to be scrapped in order to comply with the Act
(after January 4,2014) and repurchased at the higher"lead-free"cost,to replace the needed inventory.
Whereas,the City of Zephyrhills has other competing public health necessities they would prefer to
dedicate the$70,000.00 to,and the City's lead concentration level is well below the USEPA safe level in
the National Primary Drinking Water Standards for Lead and Copper.
Whereas, 51,651 Community Water Systems are in the United States, and 47,495 of those serve
populations under 10,000 people. Small and rural communities often have a difficult time,due to their
limited customer base,to provide safe drinking water and remain in compliance with Federal and State
Standards.This is compounded by the fact that small and rural communities often have lower median
household incomes and higher water rates compared to larger communities.As a result,the cost of
compliance is often dramatically higher per household. The USEPA asserts,"Because small communities
tend to be economically disadvantaged,under-served and resource-poor,they face significant barriers to
building and maintaining effective [water] treatment services."
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ZEPHYRHILLS,FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1. The City of Zephyrhills,Mayor and City Council, hereby urge U.S. Congressman Gus
Bilirakis,U.S. Senator Marco Rubio,U.S. Senator Bill Nelson,and other members of Congress,to
support and/or enact legislation to extend the compliance date of the Reduction of Lead in Drinking
Water Act for a minimum of three years, or provide communities/consumers with the choice to use the
purchased components(inventory)that are currently considered safe by the USEPA,and not be forced to
scrap the current inventories and purchase new.
Section 2. A copy of this Resolution shall be sent to U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis,U.S.
Senator Marco Rubio,.and-U.S. Senator Bill Nelson.
_PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Zephyrhills,Florida,this 9th Day o
December,2013.
Attest•'_
-Linda D;Bo _, City Clerk e A. mi ,Council Pr ' t
a i W.Burgess,Jr.,
Approved as to legal form and legal content
for the sole reli for the Ci Ze hyrhills
Joseph A. Poblick, Cii ttorney