President Joe Biden visits Wilmington to discuss clean water infrastructure

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — President Joe Biden visited Wilmington Thursday to talk about improving water and infrastructure.

Part of his speech emphasized how contaminated water can impact the classroom.

“In this room today we have representatives for every level of government,” Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said.

Right after Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan and Governor Roy Cooper welcomed the President of the United States, Bradly Creek Elementary School 2nd Grade teacher Paris Pugh took the stage at the Wilmington Convention Center.

“It’s my privilege to introduce a leader whose compassion inspires us all, President Joe Biden,” Pugh said.

During his first Presidential visit to Wilmington, Biden had one major focus.

“Folks, I’m here to talk about something very basic and fundamental to our communities, to our economy, to our basic human dignity — safe, clean drinking water,” Biden said.

Biden discussed replacing lead pipes across the country and here in the Cape Fear.

“Recently we discovered that one of our schools water fountains was contaminated with lead,” Pugh said. “We swiftly resolved the issue, but no teacher or students should have to worry about their most basic needs like access to clean water.”

Pugh said that issue was fixed with money from the American Rescue Plan, and Thursday the EPA announced more than $76 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to do more.

“The only way forward is to replace every lead service line that connects Americans to clean water,” Biden said.

Pugh said she sees first hand how important this is for her students.

“My kids fill up their water bottles at the school fountains every day before recess, after recess,” Pugh said. “They come to school honestly to have clean water.”

This isn’t the first time the Cape Fear has talked about issues in the water.

“As a consequence of PFAS, you’ve seen aggressive cancers emerge,” Biden said. “It’s gone so far, we are advising and warning you can’t eat the fish.”

Biden said they have a plan to fix that too.

“My administration is investing an additional 9 billion dollars more than ever in the history of America to finally get rid of PFAS chemicals,” Biden said.

While this wasn’t a campaign rally, there was some touting during Biden’s visit.

“A decreasing unemployment rate in North Carolina, lowering credit card and bank fees across the country, and increasing your internet speed while lowering the cost,” Biden said.

Attendance for Thursday’s event was invitation only. The White House and the Democratic Party sent out the invitations.