ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)-- DURING NATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK, SOME LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES ARE URGING GOV. KATHY HOCHUL TO SIGN LEGISLATION CALLED THE LEAD PIPE RIGHT TO KNOW ACT.  

THE legislation WOULD REQUIRE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS TO MAKE INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD SERVICE PIPELINES ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.  

SOME LAWMAKERS SAID THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN, WHO CAN EXPERIENCE SERIOUS LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS FROM LEAD EXPOSURE.  

“We can’t address what we don’t know. So, it starts with this right to know such that parents can be the first to address this in their homes,” said Assembly Member Patricia Fahy (D-Assembly District 109). 

FOR SOME ADVOCATES WHO RALLY IN THE CAPITOL TODAY, THIS ISSUE IS PERSONAL.

JONA FAVREAU, A LOCAL TROY RESIDENT LAST SUMMER DISCOVERED WHILE NINE MONTHS PREGNANT WITH HER SECOND CHILD, THAT HER 2-YEAR-OLD SON HAD LEVELS OF LEAD IN THEIR SYSTEM.  

“You want to do anything to protect your children and then to find out that the water is what is what’s making them sick,” Favreau said. 

FAVREAU THEN BEGAN ADVOCATING AND WORKING WITH THE CITY TO GET THE LEAD PIPES IN TROY REPLACED.

A FEW MONTHS AGO, SHE ACHIEVED HER GOAL NOW WATCHING THE CITY REPLACE SOME OF ITS LEAD PIPES, WITH HER SONS BY HER SIDE.  

SOME ADVOCATES SAID IN ADDITION TO THIS LEGISLATION, THEY HOPE THE GOVERNOR WILL ALLOCATE MONEY IN THE NEXT STATE BUDGET TO START REPLACING LEAD PIPES IN THE STATE.