Louisiana voters will soon decide on a constitutional amendment that could allow federal money to be used for replacing lead pipes on private property, as early voting is already underway and the election is two weeks away.
Lead contamination in drinking water is a significant issue in southeast Louisiana. A study done a couple years ago found more than 80% of homes tested in Orleans Parish had detectable levels of lead in their water.
Lakeview resident Chad LaRose said he received a letter several weeks ago notifying him lead pipes might be delivering water to his home.
“It kind of hit me like a ton of bricks, you know?” LaRose said during a Zoom call Tuesday. “Living in New Orleans most of my life, never had any perception that that was in the ground.”
The proposed amendment, listed as seven out of 10 on this year’s ballot, has garnered bipartisan support in the state legislature.
“We can agree on issues that are common sense,” Democratic state Sen. Royce Duplessis said. “We’re talking about public safety, public health, getting dangerous lead pipes out of the ground.”
Rep. Mike Bayham, a Republican representing district 103, joined Duplessis in a social media video endorsing the amendment.
“This is a big issue we have in Louisiana, particularly with some of these houses, have been using lead pipes long before the EPA decided to warn people about the danger of lead paint and lead pipes,” Rep. Bayham said.
Critics of the amendment argue more safeguards are needed to make sure the funds reach everyday homeowners, and the process for accessing the money should be streamlined.
“We know there’s no safe level of lead,” said Kennedy Moore, state policy coordinator at The Water Collaborative, a local nonprofit that has conducted water testing in the area.
“Our highest amount of lead we saw was multiple dozens times higher than the, the legal limit that’s set by the Environmental Protection Agency,” Moore said of the Orleans Parish study conducted in 2024.
WDSU asked LaRose, who installed a filtration system in his home years ago, if he would take advantage of federal funds to replace his pipes if the amendment passes.
“Yes. Oh, without a doubt. Without a doubt,” LaRose said.
READ MORE:Testing the waters: Louisiana voters to decide on amendment for lead pipe removal funding
