Biden sets a 10-year deadline for U.S. cities to replace lead pipes and make drinking water safer

10-Year Deadline for Lead Pipe Replacement: President Biden has set a 10-year timeline for cities to replace lead pipes to ensure safe drinking water for all Americans. This is the most significant overhaul of lead-in-water standards in over 30 years.

Stricter Lead Standards: The new regulation lowers the acceptable lead concentration level from 15 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion. It also requires immediate action to reduce exposure and public notification if high levels of lead are detected.

Funding and Support for Compliance: The EPA will provide $2.6 billion in additional funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law, along with $35 million in competitive grants to help cities comply with the new standards.

Challenges in Implementation: Replacing lead pipes poses significant challenges, including high costs and difficulty locating pipes due to incomplete records. The total cost is expected to exceed the $15 billion initially allocated.

Targeting High-Risk Areas: The regulation focuses on older, industrial cities with a high concentration of lead pipes, including Milwaukee, Chicago, and Detroit, where the risk of contamination is greater, especially in low-income communities.