Allentown, PA — Thursday, Allentown residents organized by Food & Water Watch delivered a letter to Representative Ryan Mackenzie, urging him to uphold the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). The rule aims to replace most of the country’s lead water lines in the next decade and lowers the lead level needed to take remediative action from 15 ppb to 10 ppb. A joint resolution filed under the Congressional Review Act was filed last month to overturn the historic ruling. 

Pennsylvania has the fourth highest number of lead service lines in the country, with over 688,000 lead service lines estimated across the state. Allentown has over 10,800 lead and galvanized service lines, and nearly 30,000 service lines of unknown material, Lead is a dangerous, toxic heavy metal that is not safe to consume at any level. Lead is especially dangerous for pregnant people and children. 

Representative Mackenzie has yet to take a position on the LCRI, despite previous demonstrations calling on him to protect the rule. Staffers at his office in January stated that Mackenzie did not have a stance on the issue. 

In response, Food & Water Watch PA State Director Megan McDonough issued the following statement:

“Representative Mackenzie has a duty to represent his constituents’ best interests. So far, we’re not seeing that — Mackenzie has yet to give his stance on keeping lead out of water. Mackenzie’s constituents want him to uphold clean water protections and protect public health for their own families and those across the Commonwealth and the country. Plain and simple, Mackenzie must promise to keep lead out of water — we will continue rallying until he does.

“Mackenzie needs to remember who he represents. It’s time to put community needs over corporate greed. Every person deserves access to clean water, and our electeds need to fight for that right. It’s the bare minimum. Mackenzie needs to publicly recognize that and vote to not repeal the EPA’s rule to keep lead out of our water.”