When I first moved to Bridgeport as a college student, it was very unsettling to think that something as simple as filling my water bottle in my own apartment could pose a health risk. Bridgeport is a city with a proud past, and has faced its share of economic challenges, but it has continued t o work through redevelopment. Today, it is still a place where hard working families and college students strive everyday to make a better life. But, there’s a danger lurking underground that has not been discussed enough: the lead contamination in our water. Recent testing in Connecticut has revealed that many schools and buildings still show high levels of lead. Lead is a toxic metal that can have serious health risks, especially for children. Lead has been known to permanently damage the brain and nervous system. It affects IQ levels, and causes learning and behavioral problems. As a student living in Bridgeport, I see first hand how this issue affects everyone. This means spending extra money on bottles of water and ice, just to protect yourself from the danger that should have been eliminated decades ago. There is never a safe level of lead exposure. These consequences are life long and irreversible. Grace Gaffney In a city with aging infrastructure and older housing stock, Bridgeport residents face a persistent risk from lead pipes and fixtures that carry our water. Many schools and public buildings in the area were constructed decades ago, before modern safety standards banned the use of lead materials in plumbing. Families in Bridgeport that already struggle with the economic hardship at hand, should not have to worry about the water that is coming from their faucet. Clean drinking water is a basic human right, not just a privilege that is reserved for healthier towns. Safe water should not depend on your ZIP code or your income. Connecticut has made some progress. State law now requires school and child care centers to test their water for lead and to publicly report the results. There have also been grant programs to help communities replace old plumbing. But, Bridgeport specifically needs more support. The city and the state must work together because this is still not enough. Even with the testing, it identifies the problem, but it doesn’t fix it. There needs to be full funding for remediation, not just testing. We could start fundraising by planning a community based project such as donation drives and partnership campaigns. This funding will replace fixtures, remove lead components in older buildings, and upgrade plumping in school systems. This is about our collective future. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive without being poisoned by the water they drink, which shouldn’t even be a factor. Every family should have their own piece of mind knowing that their tap water is not only running, but is safe to drink. We cannot let another generation of children suffer from a problem that is solvable.There needs to be a better corrective plan for Bridgeport. Community development should not be held back from the lead that is still in our water. This needs to be treated with the seriousness it deserves. This is the city’s future depending on it. It’s time for Bridgeport and Connecticut to fully commit to a lead free future. Grace Gaffney is a junior at Sacred Heart University, majoring in Health Science.   ...read more read less