In a landmark announcement aimed at ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans, President Joe Biden is set to unveil a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule during his trip to Wisconsin. This new regulation comes a decade after the well-documented Flint, Michigan water crisis underscored the severe risks associated with lead in drinking water. The rule establishes a 10-year deadline for cities nationwide to replace their lead pipes.
In a crucial moment amid a competitive presidential campaign, President Biden conveyed the significance of public health at a gathering with union members in Milwaukee. He posed a poignant question, “What is a government for if it cannot protect the public health?” Notably, Milwaukee boasts one of the highest concentrations of lead pipes in the country—a fact Biden labeled as unacceptable in light of ongoing efforts to address this long-standing problem.
“Finally, we’re tackling an issue that should have been addressed long ago in this country,” Biden emphasized, affirming his administration’s dedication to resolving this crisis. EPA Administrator Michael Regan echoed these sentiments, highlighting Milwaukee as a leading example of how cities nationwide are working to eliminate lead from their drinking water supplies.
With over nine million lead pipes still operational, the urgency for action is clearer than ever. The new regulation replaces a less comprehensive standard established by the Trump administration, which did not mandate universal lead pipe replacement. Under the new rule, water systems are required to maintain lead concentrations at or below 10 parts per billion, a reduction from the previous threshold of 15 ppb.
Regan pointed out the undeniable scientific consensus that there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. “Everyone wants this lead out,” he remarked, walking through the positive implications of the new regulations, including the potential to prevent up to 900,000 infants from being born with low birth weights and save approximately 1,500 lives each year from heart disease.
The newly established rule also revises how lead levels are measured, potentially revealing more cities with hazardous lead concentrations. To assist in meeting these standards, the EPA will allocate an additional $2.6 billion for drinking water infrastructure through the bipartisan infrastructure law, along with $35 million in competitive grants aimed at reducing lead levels.
Water utilities will have a three-year preparation period before the 10-year countdown begins. However, some municipalities with significant lead pipe challenges may be afforded additional time to comply with the new requirements.
The task of removing lead pipes poses significant obstacles, particularly as many cities lack accurate records of their water infrastructure. Despite the $15 billion set aside in the 2021 infrastructure law, experts caution that the overall expense could be much higher. Erik Olson, a health and food advocacy expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, highlighted the widespread public desire to rid tap water of lead, stating, “Nobody wants to be drinking lead-contaminated tap water.”
As the Biden administration forges ahead with stringent new drinking water standards, including measures against harmful “forever chemicals,” achieving its public health objectives will require substantial cooperation and investment at every level.
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