EPA Mandates Removal of All Lead Pipes in the U.S. Within Ten Years, According to Reuters

The Biden administration has enacted a significant regulation requiring water utilities across the nation to replace nearly all lead pipes within a decade, addressing a serious health risk especially harmful to infants and children.

This initiative is a cornerstone of the administration’s efforts to tackle environmental issues and racial disparities, notably following water contamination crises in cities like Newark, New Jersey, and Flint, Michigan.

“Lead exposure has been known for decades to have serious long-term health consequences for children. Yet millions of lead service lines continue to supply drinking water to homes,” stated EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden is determined to eradicate this long-standing public health issue.”

President Joe Biden plans to visit Wisconsin to promote this new policy, which is expected to resonate positively in key Midwestern states ahead of the upcoming presidential election. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also running for president, has emphasized the importance of replacing lead pipes, particularly for underserved communities.

The rule, which was proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2023, enforces the strictest limits on lead in drinking water set by federal standards in decades. Water utilities will now be required to assess their systems and replace lead pipes over the next ten years.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021 allocated $50 billion for improving the nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems, which includes a specific $15 billion investment over five years dedicated to replacing lead service lines.

Lead poisoning can inflict irreversible damage to the nervous system and brain, posing a particular hazard to young children. Service lines delivering water to residences are considered a primary contributor to lead exposure.

The urgency of addressing lead contamination was starkly highlighted by the crisis in Flint, Michigan, which occurred nearly a decade ago.