President Biden announced a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule that mandates all U.S. cities replace lead pipes within the next decade to safeguard public health, a move that builds on the lessons from Flint, Michigan’s water crisis.
Matthew Daly and Michael Phillis report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The EPA’s new rule requires lead pipes to be replaced in all U.S. cities within 10 years to prevent lead contamination in drinking water.
- The new standard reduces acceptable lead levels in water and mandates stricter action from water systems when these levels are exceeded.
- The Biden administration has allocated $15 billion from the 2021 infrastructure law to support these efforts, but the total cost will be much higher.
Key quote:
“Nobody wants to be drinking lead-contaminated tap water or basically sipping their water out of a lead straw, which is what millions of people are doing today.”
— Erik Olson, health and food expert at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council
Why this matters:
Lead exposure in drinking water can cause severe health issues, especially in children, including developmental delays and lower IQ. Replacing lead pipes nationwide is vital to preventing future water crises like Flint's.
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