New Documentary Exposes Federal Funding Cliff at the End of 2026, Wisconsins Push to Replace All Lead Pipes

MILWAUKEE – Today, the Avalon Atmospheric Theater transformed from a classic cinema house into a hub for public health advocacy for the premiere of The Fight for Progress: Wisconsin’s Push for Lead Pipe Replacement.

Produced jointly by Wisconsin Conservation Voters and the BlueGreen Alliance, the 30-minute documentary moves past the headlines to show the human and economic reality of lead service line replacement.

“What sets this film apart is the unprecedented level of access we were granted,” said filmmaker Nels Lindquist, Visual Storytelling Manager for Wisconsin Conservation Voters. “It takes viewers from active jobsites all the way into the halls of power.”

The film features raw interviews with the workers in the trenches, labor leaders, and city officials like Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who are racing against time to protect Milwaukee’s children from neurotoxic exposure.

“Lead contamination is an ongoing public health emergency, but it is also an opportunity to build a stronger Milwaukee and a stronger Wisconsin,” said Richard Diaz, Water Infrastructure Field Manager for BlueGreen Alliance and the film’s host. “This film shows that when we invest in our pipes, we aren’t just fixing infrastructure. We’re investing in union jobs and the health of every ZIP code.”

“Lead service line replacement has created good jobs for our union members across the state of Wisconsin” said President of the Wisconsin Pipes Trades Association, Corey Gall. “It is crucial that we continue this work and finish the job we started.”

The screening was followed by a panel discussion focused on the urgent need for continued federal and state funding to ensure every lead pipe in Wisconsin is pulled from the ground.

For more information and access to the video’s storytellers and panelists contact Communications Director Ryan Billingham at ryan@conservationvoters.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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