We audited the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) oversight of lead in the water of
Housing Choice Voucher Program and public housing program (assisted) units
based on our goal of strengthening the soundness of public and Indian
housing. The audit was part of the activities in our fiscal year 2019
audit plan. Our objective was to determine whether HUD’s Office of
Public and Indian Housing had sufficient policies, procedures, and controls
to ensure that households living in assisted units had a sufficient supply of
safe drinking water. HUD’s Office of Public and
Indian Housing did not have sufficient policies, procedures, and controls to
ensure that households living in assisted units had a sufficient supply of
safe drinking water. Public housing agencies had assisted units served
by public water systems that reported levels of lead above the Environmental
Protection Agency’s lead action level. However, HUD had limited
requirements concerning lead in the drinking water of assisted units and
generally did not require public housing agencies to take action regarding
the potential for lead in the drinking water. These weaknesses occurred
because HUD relied on the Agency to ensure that public water systems provided
water that was safe to drink. As a result, HUD lacked assurance that
households, including households with children age 6 or under, lived in
assisted units that had a sufficient supply of safe drinking water. We recommend that the General
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing develop and
implement an action plan that includes sufficient policies, procedures, and
controls that address households living in assisted units having a sufficient
supply of safe drinking water. |
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