Hillary Clinton's idea to remove lead from 'everywhere' is 'not financially feasible'

[insta8er]

During the Democratic debate in Flint, Michigan on March 6, Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders spent much of the two hours discussing domestic policy, from gun-control to race relations and economic equality.


By far, the topic du jour was the environment: specifically, the alarming levels of lead that have crept into our nation's water supply and homes — a problem highlighted by the recent contamination crisis in Flint itself.

When an audience member asked the candidates if they would support an effort to remove all lead service lines in the nation within the first 100 days in office, Clinton had a bold response:

"I want us to have an absolute commitment to getting rid of lead wherever it is, because it's not only in water systems. It's also in soil, and it's in lead paint that is found mostly in older homes."

She went on: "We will commit to a priority to change the water systems, and we will commit within five years to remove lead from everywhere."


This indeed is a responsible and noble endeavor, but is it economically feasible? Not so much, says Marc Edwards, a water quality expert and engineer at Virginia Tech who played a critical role in exposing the lead crisis in Flint (and, years earlier, in Washington, D.C.).

"Don’t get me wrong. I want the lead sources removed as bad as anyone else," Edwards told Tech Insider via email, "but doing so will carry a very high price tag."

How high? On the order of trillions of dollars, according to Edwards.

[link:http://www.techinsider.io/hillary-clinton-remove-lead-expensive-democratic-debate-2016-3|

[onehandle]

1. Bernard Sanders' idea to give us all unicorns is not financially feasible.

[KingFlorez]

2. So now we want to talk about what is financially feasible?

Please, this is so hypocritical it's not even funny.

[Wilms]

3. However challenging it might be, I applaud the idea of getting the lead out.

Fine. It will take longer than five years and cost a bunch. (Some of it will be replaced as a matter of course.)

But I don't see a need to pick on her for this.