The Environmental Protection Agency has released $3 billion in long-awaited funding to help states remove lead from water pipelines, seeking to curb exposure to a toxin linked to illness.
The agency said on Tuesday that it is releasing the funding for states through the State Revolving Fund programs to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, which has been linked to illnesses and premature deaths.
The funding release follows months of delay that stalled lead-pipe replacement projects in some states. In October, Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) said her office has paused a grant program to help municipalities and water systems identify and remove pipes due to the delay in federal funding. Earlier this month, Illinois lawmakers, including Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D), called on the EPA to release the federal funding to states, warning that “further delays put children and families at risk of easily preventable lead poisoning.”
The funding was authorized under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which set aside $15 billion for lead-pipe replacements across the country through 2026, with states expected to receive $3 billion annually.
The EPA said it reviewed previous funding and updated state service line data to accelerate efforts to identify and replace lead pipes. The agency is also launching a dashboard to show the latest state-by-state lead pipe inventories.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said, “This investment represents the EPA’s unwavering commitment to protecting America’s children from the dangers of lead exposure in their drinking water.”
“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,” he added. “This is about giving parents peace of mind and securing healthier futures for the next generation.”
The EPA said it would also redistribute an additional $1.1 billion in previously announced funding to address lead in drinking water systems. The agency said states that have neither obligated nor spent awarded funds since fiscal 2023 will be required to submit a plan to the EPA regarding how they plan to use the funds to address lead issues before being eligible for new funding.
Since the public health crisis in Flint, Michigan, over a decade ago that exposed residents to dangerous levels of lead, those in office have attempted to implement requirements to prevent similar disasters.
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The Biden administration last year announced that it would require all lead service lines to be replaced within the next 10 years. The rule has since been challenged in court, but the Trump EPA earlier this year said it plans to defend the regulation.
The agency told the Associated Press at the time that the “EPA will develop new tools and information to support practical implementation flexibilities and regulatory clarity.”
