The Environmental Protection Agency on October 8 issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years.
The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water.
In addition, the final rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them, EPA said.
EPA has posted materials related to the final rule on its website.
Funding Announcement
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and funding programs like EPA’s Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act grants, the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and Water Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act loans provide billions of dollars for projects to reduce lead in drinking water.
Alongside the LCRI, EPA announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support lead pipe replacement projects.
Total funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that can be used for lead line replacements is over $26 billion over five years and includes:
- $15 billion over five years for lead service line replacement activities,
- $11.7 billion over five years, including $2.6 billion that was announced today, in general supplemental funding to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program, which can be used to remove lead pipes or address other pressing drinking water issues in communities.
Half of this funding will go to disadvantaged communities as grants (or principal forgiveness loans). The EPA’s water technical assistance (WaterTA), including the Get the Lead Out (GLO) Initiative, helps disadvantaged communities identify lead services lines, develop replacement plans, and apply for funding.
Communities seeking to access GLO Initiative resources can request assistance by completing the WaterTA request form on EPA’s WaterTA website. EPA is also announcing the availability of $35 million in competitive grant funding for reducing lead in drinking water. Communities are invited to apply directly for grant funding through this program.
Additional federal funding is available to support lead pipe replacement projects and EPA has developed a website identifying available funding sources.
