As Galesburg’s lead issue continues, Democratic Congresswoman Cheri Bustos is responding to comments made following Monday night’s City Council meeting.
An Associated Press report published earlier this month highlighted high lead levels found in more than 14% of Knox County Children tested and in lead service lines sampled since 1992.
Yesterday, AP reported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now urging Galesburg officials to provide bottled water, lead filtration and free water tests for residents requesting them.
Monday, various aldermen, administration and Knox County Health officials said they believe the larger issue to be immersed in deteriorating homes. Health Department Administrator Michele Gabriel has said she estimates 80 percent to 90 percent of exceeding levels in children to be attributed to the environment.
Bustos has largely advocated to this point for lead service line replacement in the city. When asked about comments regarding lead paint and older homes, the East Moline Democrat tells WGIL she wants to find the source.
“I’m interested in finding the culprit here,” Bustos says. “If that’s lead paint, if it’s lead dust, if it’s lead in the water or if it’s all of the above. I’m interested in making sure that our children are not exposed to lead in their systems.”
With the announcement from the Federal EPA yesterday, Bustos says in a news release that she is “pleased the City of Galesburg is now considering several options to assist families whose water is exceeding the federal action level.”
Republican candidate Patrick Harlan, who is running against Bustos this election year, has spoken out against the Congresswoman who initially chided the city’s immediate response to exceeding levels.
He was in attendance at Monday’s meeting, but did not speak.
