EPA progress reports or official statements

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

Oct 8, 2024, 03:00 PM

President Joe Biden has announced a comprehensive plan to replace all lead pipes in the United States within the next 10 years. This initiative, which comes a decade after the Flint, Michigan water crisis, aims to address the ongoing public health threat posed by lead-contaminated drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule requiring water utilities to replace these pipes, which affect more than nine million homes nationwide. The Biden administration has pledged an additional $2.6 billion in funding to support this effort, which is part of a broader push for environmental justice and public health. EPA Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the 'moral imperative' to act, noting the significant and irreversible health effects of lead exposure, particularly on children. The new rule, part of the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule improvements, is seen as a historic step towards ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans.