Biden Declares Emergency Over Lead Contamination in US Virgin Islands Water

Facts

• US Pres. Joe Biden has declared an emergency over lead-in-water contamination in the US Virgin Islands this week, after tests on the Caribbean island of St. Croix showed lead levels 100 times above the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) limit, among the worst seen in decades in a US community.¹
• The declaration will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to identify and supply the resources necessary to mitigate impacts for 90 days, including providing aid with water, testing, and technical assistance related to immediate public health threats.²
• Though reportedly safe for showering, Virgin Islands health officials have urged people in affected areas to refrain from brushing their teeth with water suspected to contain high levels of lead and cooper. Clean water vouchers have been distributed to at least 1,288 eligible residents since Nov. 18.³
• Late last month, the US Virgin Islands had declared a state of emergency so as to free up resources, streamline emergency response, and seek federal help after an investigation on reddish-brown water found lead and cooper.⁴
• There are no safe levels of lead exposure, according to the EPA, and measures must be taken if drinking water contaminated with metals is to be used under any circumstances. The underlying cause of the elevated sampling levels is expected to be determined in a final report by mid-December.⁵
• Lead is an extremely toxic heavy metal that can cause damage to the brain and central nervous system in children, and heart problems in adults. This crisis echoes that of Benton, Michigan, which saw residents rely on bottled water for months while waiting for officials to confirm that filters were effective.⁶

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²The Virgin Islands Daily News, ³St. Croix Source, ⁴FOX News, ⁵US Environmental Protection Agency and ⁶Daily Mail.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by ABC News. It's unlikely that this situation constitutes an actual emergency. Poor conduct around testing means that lead levels in water samples likely came out artificially high. The testing should have been carried out again before an emergency declaration — which frees up significant funding and resources at public expense — was made.
• Narrative B, as provided by The Virgin Islands Daily News. The current water crisis is beyond the capabilities of the territory's infrastructure and services, and federal help is needed in order to avert disaster and save lives. Current circumstances definitely meet the qualifications required to declare an emergency.

Predictions