Official US government budget announcements and EPA reports

Biden Unveils $2.6 Billion Plan, EPA Rule to Replace All US Lead Pipes in 10 Years

Oct 8, 2024, 02:12 PM

President Joe Biden has unveiled a comprehensive plan to replace all lead pipes in the United States within the next 10 years. This initiative comes a decade after the Flint, Michigan, water crisis highlighted the ongoing dangers of lead in tap water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule requiring water utilities to replace all lead-contaminated pipes within a decade. The Biden administration has pledged an additional $2.6 billion in funding to support this effort, which aims to address a major public health threat. EPA Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the 'moral imperative' to act, noting that more than nine million homes are still served by legacy lead pipes. The policy is expected to make drinking water safer for tens of thousands of American children who are currently at risk of lead exposure. The EPA's Lead and Copper Rule improvements underscore that there is no safe level of lead exposure and aim to protect the public from the significant and irreversible health effects associated with lead in drinking water.