The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committing nearly $2.9 billion in funding to states to remove lead from drinking water.
“This funding will advance state and local efforts to find and replace lead pipes (also known as lead service lines) that deliver water to homes,” the agency said in a press release. “Communities can use these funds for identifying lead pipes, planning removal projects, and funding replacement of these lead service lines. Each lead pipe removed and replaced delivers real, tangible public health benefits in communities across our great nation.”
According to the EPA, each lead pipe removed from communities “delivers real, tangible public health benefits in communities across our great nation.”
The effort, led through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), assists water systems in achieving the health protection goals of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In addition to the funding, the EPA will also redistribute an additional $18 million in DWSRF funds to specifically address lead.
The initiative follows the EPA putting forward a “landmark set of actions” to protect the nation’s drinking water from “microplastics, pharmaceuticals, forever chemicals, and dozens of other contaminants.” Seventy-five chemicals and nine microbes that may be found in drinking water are listed in a draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6).
Removing “forever chemicals” in drinking water is another effort spearheaded by the EPA to protect Americans’ water. The effort, called PFAS OUT, works with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to contaminants. “Small, rural, and disadvantaged water systems often have fewer resources to navigate complex contamination challenges,” the EPA explained. “PFAS OUT is specifically designed to ensure these communities are not left behind, helping every affected system reduce exposure now and position itself for full compliance with enforceable drinking water standards in the coming years.”
