Ban Lead Poisoned Water = Reduce Crime

For decades, Washington D.C. has known about the lead in our water pipes, poisoning our communities, and driving up the crime rate, yet the current administration asks us to wait until 2037 for a solution. Every year of delay is another year of exposing our children to a neurotoxin that doesn't just lower IQs—it fuels the very impulsivity and aggression that drive up our crime rates. The economic toll of lead exposure via Washington DC’s water pipes exceeds $50 billion, primarily through lost productivity, increased healthcare and criminal justice costs. The Khan administration will not wait 11 more years. We are committing to replacing every lead water pipe in the District — all 50,000+ of them — within the first 12 months of my term. This is an investment in our children's health today and a safer, more peaceful D.C. tomorrow.

Why Khan is Accelerating the Timeline:

The Science of Safety: Scientific research establishes a "lead-crime hypothesis," showing a direct link between childhood lead exposure and increased adult arrest rates for violent crimes. By removing lead now, we are proactively reducing the neurobiological triggers for future violence.

Fixing a Failed System: The current Lead Free DC plan has only replaced roughly 16% of the city's 60,000 lead pipes since 2019. Hundreds of miles of lead water pipes remain, actively poisoning our communities and seeding decades of violence. At the current pace, the city will miss its own goals, leaving tens of thousands of families at risk for another decade.

Economic Accountability: The projected cost for lead removal has skyrocketed from $500 million to $1.8 billion due to bureaucratic delays. By completing the work in one year, we avoid the "inflation tax" of a decade-long project and stop the cycle of damage claims and botched construction that plagues current slow-walked efforts.

Environmental Justice: Lead exposure is a civil rights issue, with the highest concentrations of lead pipes located in Wards 5, 7, and 8.

Khan’s one-year plan prioritizes these communities to close the health and safety gap immediately.

We have the funds, we have the technology, and now, we have the will. We will treat this like the emergency it is.

Safe water is not a luxury for 2037—it is a human right for 2027

The Infrastructure Hero Wage: Building a Lead-Free D.C. Faster

We shouldn't have to wait another decade for clean water while our neighbors are poisoned by lead. The current pace is a failure of leadership and a lack of investment in the people who do the hard work. My administration will launch the $50 Lead-Free Initiative, paying a living wage of $50/hour specifically for construction workers rebuilding our sewage system and replacing every lead pipe in the District. By paying for the best, we attract the best, ensuring our pipes are replaced years ahead of schedule and the job is done right the first time."

Key Pillars of Khan’s Infrastructure Pledge:

• $50/Hour Minimum for Critical Infrastructure: A guaranteed floor for workers on the front lines of the District's sewage and water pipe overhauls.

• Accelerated Replacement Goal: Using a high-quality, high-pay workforce to slash the Lead Free DC timeline, moving the 2037 EPA deadline forward to protect the health of children and families sooner.

• Top-Quality Accountability: High wages come with high standards. We will prioritize local workers and specialized teams to eliminate the property damage and sinkhole issues currently plaguing District construction sites.

• A "Peace of Mind" Guarantee: Investing in our sewage system and replacing 50,000 lead service lines isn't just about plumbing—it's about the "peace of mind" that comes from knowing your city is finally prioritizing your health over federal wars and corporate interests.

As Khan notes, "If we can find trillions for wars, we can find $50 an hour for the heroes who keep our water safe. Vote for Khan. Vote for a city that finally works at the speed of its people."