By Stephen Oduntan
Contributing Writer
WATTS — Local residents, including children and senior citizens, are grappling with a growing crisis as lead-contaminated water threatens their health and safety.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, described the situation as “a Flint-like crisis” during a press conference Nov. 22 at the Nickerson Gardens Housing Project. He questioned whether the response would have been faster if the crisis occurred in wealthier neighborhoods, saying, “If this had been on the Westside or the Valley, would the city have taken immediate action?”
Advocates compared the situation to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which developed about 10 years ago after the city switched its drinking water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Contamination in the river caused widespread health issues and exposed systemic government failures.
The issue came to Hutchinson’s attention in August following the release of the Better Watts Initiative (BWI) study that revealed lead levels in several water samples from Watts homes that exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 15 parts per billion — a threshold that mandates infrastructure repairs and public notification.
“This isn’t just about contaminated water—it’s about justice,” Hutchinson said.
Tim Watkins, president and CEO of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee and founder of the BWI study, detailed the devastating implications of lead exposure.
“There’s no amount of lead that’s safe for consumption, and as little as one part per billion can impair the cognitive development of an infant,” Watkins said. “The effects don’t show up until later in life, often in the third or fourth grade, when children start falling behind in class.
“The damage is irreversible and sets off a chain reaction that affects education, behavior and decision-making. It’s one reason Watts has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country — our children are born into a hyper-toxic environment.”
Watkins praised City Councilman Tim McOsker for his commitment to addressing Watts’ environmental challenges.
“Tim McOsker is the first politician for our district who has genuinely responded to our concerns,” Watkins said.
In an email to The Wave, McOsker emphasized his long-standing involvement with the Better Watts Initiative and outlined his recent efforts to address the crisis.
“Residents in Watts face significant environmental justice challenges that severely impact their health and well-being,” McOsker wrote. “Even before my time in office, I tracked closely the work of the Better Watts Initiative. BWI has been crucial in bringing attention to the concerning water quality in Watts.
“Recognizing the urgency of this issue, I immediately convened meetings with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and the Department of Water and Power (DWP) to advocate for comprehensive water testing throughout the developments and the broader Watts area. Like all Angelenos, the people of Watts should have a safe and healthy environment to call home, and that undoubtedly includes access to safe, clean water.”
McOsker highlighted collaborative efforts to raise awareness.
“Last Saturday, my office partnered with the East Side Bike Riders Club, a local community group, to engage in door-to-door outreach, spreading the word about the critical need for residents to test their water,” he wrote.
In response to the BWI study’s findings, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power launched a testing program in partnership with local officials and organizations, including the Housing Authority, which operates Nickerson Gardens; Mayor Karen Bass, and McOsker.
The DWP has prepared more than 2,000 test kits for public housing sites and is expanding free water quality testing to the broader Watts community. Residents can request kits through the DWP hotline, with results available in one to two weeks.
“Since August, we have been working with local partners to provide a comprehensive testing program,” said DWP CEO Janisse Quiñones.
Despite these efforts, advocates like Hutchinson remain frustrated by the lack of immediate solutions.
“What are they testing for, and why does it take so long to act when we already know there’s a problem?” he asked, emphasizing the urgency of immediate action. Hutchinson called for measures such as providing filtration systems or bottled water to homes with elevated lead levels.
“In a city budget of tens of billions of dollars, filters could be supplied at the drop of a hat,” he said.
The BWI study, conducted by volunteers from Watts and students from UCLA and USC, revealed systemic challenges that have compounded environmental concerns in the area.
Watts, identified by CalEnviroScreen as one of California’s most polluted neighborhoods, faces longstanding issues with aging infrastructure and environmental neglect. Watkins emphasized the broad impact of these challenges.
“Our community’s health indicators — cancer rates, infant mortality, psychological and physiological well-being — are among the worst in the nation,” he said. “This isn’t isolated to one household or block. It’s systemic.”
Community leaders remain committed to informing and empowering residents, including a door-to-door campaign with the goal of creating a safer, healthier future for Watts.
Stephen Oduntan is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers.
