Biden Announces $2.6 Billion Plan to Replace All Lead Pipes in the US Within 10 Years

Oct 8, 2024, 02:15 PM

President Joe Biden has announced a comprehensive plan to replace all lead pipes in the United States within the next decade. This initiative, which includes an additional $2.6 billion in funding, aims to address the ongoing public health threat posed by lead-contaminated water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule requiring water utilities to replace all lead service lines, a move that comes a decade after the Flint, Michigan water crisis highlighted the dangers of lead in tap water. More than nine million lead service lines deliver water to homes across the country. The Biden administration's plan is part of a broader effort to ensure safe drinking water for all Americans and eliminate the toxic threat that affects tens of thousands of children each year. EPA Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the 'moral imperative' to act, and the initiative is supported by the transformative Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The new rule is also part of improvements to the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule.