When the federal government ordered cities and towns across the country to determine whether pipes in their public water systems contain lead, the superintendent of Southampton’s Water Department could not get all of the information the Environmental Protection Agency was demanding.
Brett Simmons told The Republican information about pipes leading into nearly 700 homes and other buildings is unknown. Cities and towns across the commonwealth had similar gaps in the inventories they sent to the EPA last fall.
Simmons said he needs $250,000 to finish the research and wants help from the federal government — but the Trump administration has frozen funds he might have been able to use to complete the inventory.
