Public health must be top priority with water lines

We commend Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s decision to halt partial line replacement of lead service lines (“PWSA Halts Lead Line Swap: Levels Were Too High at Some Homes With Replacements,” June 3). Under the state Department of Environmental Protection’s administrative order, PWSA is required to replace 7 percent of the lead service lines per year. Until recently, PWSA was replacing the “public” side of the line, leaving the “private” side intact if the homeowner cannot afford to replace her line.

The federal Lead and Copper Rule has created an invisible line on these lead service lines delineating ownership of the “public” side (PWSA) versus the “private” side (homeowner) from curb to tap. This invisible line has nothing to do with protecting public health, which must be our priority. Partial line replacements have been proven to increase the amount of lead exposure in drinking water. For cities that have conducted partial line replacements, the data show this increased lead exposure may occur for days, and in some cases years, due to physical and chemical disturbance.

Today representatives of PWSA will meet with DEP staff. We urge DEP and state legislators to work with PWSA. It is imperative that partial line replacements cease until PWSA has full authority to replace the

lead service line, thereby preventing future risk of lead poisoning to the families of the city of Pittsburgh. This antiquated method of dealing with a decades-old problem must stop immediately and filters and replacement cartridges must remain readily available. MICHELLE NACCARATICHAPKIS Executive Director Women for a Healthy Environment

East Liberty presidential administration, which regularly has to say, “Wait, that’s not exactly what the president meant. Let us clarify. …”)

Then Wednesday morning James Byrne’s letter says our mayor shouldn’t alienate the president by speaking up for our city (“Peduto Is Foolish to Alienate the City,” June 7). If the leader of our country can’t handle a little pushback or criticism, maybe he’s not cut out for the job. And considering the way the president continues to provoke unrest with his words, he should stop alienating the citizens of this country. MIKE SHANLEY

Polish Hill

Until recently most people would form their opinions based on verifiable facts. In the current world many are creating alternative facts to support their opinions.

A perfect example is Bill Catullo’s June 4 letter “Peduto Is Off Base.” Mr. Catullo writes, “Pittsburgh wouldn’t survive without the adjoining suburbs” (alternative fact) and “Hillary Clinton got 80 percent of the Pittsburgh vote is misleading” since “Western Pennsylvania (a Democratic stronghold) ... .”

Fact: Bill Peduto is mayor of Pittsburgh and, though 80 percent is slightly exaggerated, the Pittsburgh vote was overwhelming for Ms. Clinton (75 percent) over Donald Trump (21 percent).

Fact: Pittsburgh and its adjoining suburbs make up Allegheny County, which again voted overwhelmingly for Ms. Clinton (56.4 percent) over Mr. Trump (40 percent).

Fact: Western Pennsylvania sans Allegheny County has not voted Democratic in the last three presidential elections, hardly making it a Democratic stronghold.

Based on these alternative facts, Mr. Catullo goes on to claim that the Paris accord is “simply another progressive liberal ploy at a global socialist state” and “erodes the future of children in WesternPennsylvania.”

These statements are not based in reality. I wonder what other progressive liberal ploys at a global socialist state Mr. Catullo has uncovered and exactly how the Paris accord will erode the future of Western Pennsylvania children.

I used to think everyone’s opinion, whether I agreed or not, deserved to be heard. Now I’m not so sure. ED McMANUS

Mt. Lebanon