After the Flint, Michigan water crisis a decade ago brought lead contamination in tap water to the forefront, President Joe Biden is unveiling a comprehensive 10-year plan, requiring cities nationwide to replace their lead pipes. Set to be announced by Biden in Wisconsin during a crucial moment in the presidential campaign, the plan aims to ensure safe drinking water for all Americans. This initiative overturns a less strict standard established by the previous administration, emphasizing a universal mandate for lead pipe replacement.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris view access to clean drinking water as a moral obligation, reaffirmed by EPA Administrator Michael Regan, who underlines the clear scientific consensus that there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. The updated rule represents the most significant revision of lead-in-water standards in nearly three decades, recognizing lead’s harmful effects as a neurotoxin causing various health issues from behavioral disorders to decreased intelligence and increased blood pressure.
The EPA’s enhanced regulation lowers the lead concentration threshold to an “action level” of 10 parts per billion, down from the current standard of 15 parts per billion, with provisions for public notification and protective measures if high lead levels are detected. The revised rule also alters lead measurement methodologies, potentially identifying more cities and water systems with elevated lead levels. To aid compliance, the EPA is allocating $2.6 billion for drinking water infrastructure along with $35 million in competitive grants for lead reduction programs.
Although the 10-year timeline will commence in three years to allow water utilities to prepare, some cities with substantial lead pipe volumes may receive extended deadlines to meet the new standard. Notably, Milwaukee, ranked fifth nationwide for lead pipes, is utilizing federal infrastructure funding to expedite lead-pipe replacement efforts within a decade, demonstrating a proactive approach to public safety.
Removing lead pipes, which can corrode and contaminate water, poses significant challenges despite the $15 billion allocated in the 2021 infrastructure law. Moreover, while the rule addresses lead pipes, the Biden administration is proposing stringent standards for PFAS chemicals, indicating health and environmental progress but requiring substantial investment.
While the American Water Works Association endorses the EPA’s objectives, concerns persist among some Republican attorneys general regarding funding and homeowner liabilities. Nevertheless, Regan and supporters maintain that the health benefits of the rule far outweigh costs, underscoring the critical importance of upgrading water infrastructure to safeguard public health. Addressing the logistical hurdle of locating lead pipes, initiatives like BlueConduit have emerged to assist cities in this monumental effort to ensure safe and clean drinking water for all Americans.
