Lead pipe replacement is focus of EPA funding

Pipe makers and contractors who engage in utility work soon could benefit from $3 billion in United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding.

The $3 billion in new funding for states is earmarked through the EPA's State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water.

The agency says it conducted a thorough review of previously awarded funding and assessed updated lead service line data to achieve maximum impact in removing lead pipes and reducing lead contamination in drinking water systems.

The funding is intended to accelerate progress in finding and removing lead pipes (also known as lead service lines that deliver water to homes, schools and businesses) and is being deployed along with a new lead service line inventories dashboard that aggregates information provided by states.

“This investment represents the EPA’s unwavering commitment to protecting America's children from the dangers of lead exposure in their drinking water,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says. “With our updated data, we can tackle this challenge more efficiently than ever before, and we're ensuring every dollar goes directly toward replacing the lead pipes that threaten our communities.”

Reducing drinking water exposure to lead is a priority under EPA’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative. The Trump administration’s commitment to tackling lead in drinking water is a throughline from the first term, when EPA issued the first regulation in 30 years to strengthen protections.

EPA says its goal is to ensure funds are deployed where they are needed most, adding the funding allotments will be distributed based on the best available information locating the approximately 4 million active lead service lines.

The agency's latest effort also involves the redistribution of an additional $1.1 billion in previously announced funding to address lead. These funds were made available to states but have not been used, according to the EPA.

The funds can be used for lead service line replacement and associated activities like identification, planning, design and replacement.

“Supporting drinking water systems as they work around the clock to provide safe water for all Americans is one of EPA’s top priorities,” EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer says. “Not only are we providing $3 billion in new federal assistance for replacing lead pipes, and $1.1 billion in redistributed federal funding, but we also expect that this money will go farther because updated inventory data show far fewer lead pipes across the country."