Partnership Will Make it Easier for Milwaukee Families to get a Water Filter

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Health Commissioner Bevan Baker announced a $75,000 donation to buy water filters for low income families who are at risk of having lead in their water.

The United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha, Aurora Health Care, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin helped raise the money.

Barrett clarified that the city’s water mains don’t have lead. However, he said, the older homes built before 1951 have lead laterals, which are pipes that connect the water main and the home.

The city added phosphate to the water to prevent lead from going inside homes. However, sometimes construction nearby increases lead exposure.

"I would imagine that there are thousands of homes that fall into that category so we want to make sure that we are reaching out to them and that they know the importance filters for their water," Barrett said.

The city plans to target those homes and it will focus on pregnant mothers and families with children under six years old.

Click here to see the Childhood lead poisoning facts from the City of Milwaukee.

Click here to see a list of water filters that are certified to reduce lead.