President Joe Biden talks about replacing lead pipes for clean drinking water in Milwaukee, Wis., on Oct. 8, 2024.
In October, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the final major legislation aimed at eliminating lead pipes from drinking water systems across the United States. This important policy comes just months after the EPA finalized the nation’s first drinking standards for PFAS.
But as President-elect Trump’s second term approaches, some worry about the longevity of these laws; especially with Trump allies who are already attacking the EPA and clean water laws. It will be important for health and environmental journalists to keep a close eye on how the next administration approaches drinking water regulations.
More about the new law
Under the Lead and Copper Amendments Act (LCRI), water utilities are required to identify and replace lead pipes within ten years. The new regulations also mandate enhanced testing of drinking water and lower thresholds for measures for communities to address the risks of lead exposure. Improved communication methods are intended to help citizens understand the dangers of lead in drinking water, the locations of lead pipes, and replacement plans.
The plan is part of Biden’s commitment to ensuring clean drinking water for all Americans, especially vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by lead exposure. In order to support this effort, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $2.6 billion in funding for drinking water infrastructure, made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
This funding would greatly benefit disadvantaged communities, with about half allocated as grants or loan forgiveness. In addition, $35 million in competitive grants will be available to reduce lead in drinking water. Additional federal funding is available for lead pipe replacement projects, and the EPA has created a website highlighting these funding sources.
The term of the law makes it vulnerable to Congressional Review Act. In addition, Project 2025 “commits to making the Environmental Protection Agency more open to industrial science, and to return to major research on exposure to toxic chemicals,” according to Hiroko Tabuchi reported to The New York Times on Nov. 20.
Alan Roberson, executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Managers, told Bloomberg Law in November that states are worried about funding for their water management programs.
“How federal funding for states shakes out in the budget negotiations is anyone’s guess,” Roberson said.
Why the law is important
About 9 million households in the US still rely on legacy pipelines, often in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, highlighting a major public health challenge. The amendments to this law are designed to protect the public from the serious health risks associated with lead exposure, including neurological damage in children and various health problems in adults.
EPA Director Michael Regan stressed the urgency of this public health project, asserting that exposure to lead has long-term harmful effects, especially in children. The economic and health benefits of the new law are estimated to outweigh the costs of Section 13, further encouraging water systems to accelerate the removal of lead pipes and creating jobs in the process.
Pediatricians and public health professionals have also expressed support, noting the serious dangers posed by lead and the importance of improved regulations.
The development of the Lead and Copper Code is designed to create clear, actionable standards that many states and municipalities have begun to implement. Some residents have already started efforts to replace lead pipes in a timely manner.
For example, Milwaukee plans to replace 65,000 lead pipes over a 10-year period, and Detroit aims to replace more than 8,000 lead service lines per year going forward. Other cities, including Erie and Denver, are also making significant progress toward eliminating lead pipes.
The health benefits of LCRI will be enormous. Annually, it is expected to protect approximately 900,000 infants from low birth weight, prevent approximately 2,600 cases of ADHD in children, and prevent 1,500 premature deaths from the disease. of the heart.
EPA’s approach to dealing with lead in drinking water includes a regulatory framework supported by federal funds and technical assistance for the public. This initiative is in line with the Justice Plan40 of the Biden-Harris Administration, whose goal is to ensure that 40% of the benefits from government investments reach disadvantaged communities.
A combination of regulatory measures, more funding, and public commitment are aimed at changing the drinking water safety situation in the United States. For more information, interested parties can visit EPA’s web page for the final rule.
Additional report
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