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The Biden administration has announced a new rule requiring water utilities to replace all lead pipes in the country within a decade. The rule, described as "historic," aims to eliminate a significant source of lead poisoning, particularly dangerous to infants and children. The announcement comes a decade after the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which brought the dangers of lead contamination into sharp focus.
President Joe Biden is expected to visit Wisconsin to promote the new policy, which is seen as popular in industrial Midwestern states. The replacement of lead pipes nationwide could also create jobs.
Lead poisoning can cause irreversible damage to the nervous system and the brain, posing a particular risk to infants and children. It can impair their cognitive development and cause behavioral disorders. Service lines, the lead pipes that bring water into homes, are thought to be a significant source of lead exposure for children.
The new regulation is stricter than one proposed last fall and requires water systems to ensure that lead concentrations do not exceed an "action level" of 10 parts per billion, down from 15 parts per billion under the current standard. If high lead levels are found, water systems must inform the public about ways to protect their health, including the use of water filters, and take action to reduce lead exposure while concurrently working to replace all lead pipes.
To help communities comply, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available an additional $2.6 billion for drinking water infrastructure through the bipartisan infrastructure law. The agency is also awarding $35 million in competitive grants for programs to reduce lead in drinking water.
The 10-year timeframe won't start for three years, giving water utilities time to prepare. A limited number of cities with large volumes of lead pipes may be given a longer timeframe to meet the new standard.
The new rule also revises the way lead amounts are measured, which could significantly expand the number of cities and water systems that are found to have excessive levels of lead.