During a recent government meeting, community members voiced urgent concerns regarding lead contamination in drinking water, highlighting significant gaps in local health and safety measures. Oceana Fair, a lead advocate, recounted her personal experience with lead exposure in her home, emphasizing the failure of Onondaga County to test water for lead despite her granddaughter's alarming blood lead levels. Fair criticized the county's assertion that no children have tested positive for lead from water sources, arguing that without proper testing, such claims are unfounded.

Fair urged the council to declare a state of emergency regarding lead service lines, advocating for immediate distribution of water filters to affected households. She stressed the importance of addressing lead contamination not only in homes but also in public spaces where children may consume water.

Kiara Van Brackle also addressed the council, pointing out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states there is no safe level of lead. She highlighted that over 10% of children in Syracuse tested positive for lead poisoning, primarily attributed to lead paint, while the potential contribution of lead in water remains unexamined. Van Brackle raised concerns about the health effects of Orthophosphate, a chemical currently in the water supply, linking it to symptoms similar to those of lead poisoning.

The discussions underscored a pressing need for comprehensive testing and remediation efforts to protect the community from lead exposure, with advocates calling for immediate action from local authorities to ensure public health and safety.