The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule that would require water systems across the country to replace millions of lead service lines within 10 years. The rule would accelerate progress toward the Biden administration’s goal of removing 100% of lead pipes; lead exposure is linked to significant health and developmental problems, especially for children. The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes EPA to establish regulations for public water systems, and the Lead and Copper Rule was established in 1991 to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. It was revised in 2021, generally with more detailed and stringent requirements. The new proposed rule would further strengthen the ways the rule targets lead in drinking water by improving how water systems are tested for lead levels and lowering the lead action level, the threshold that requires additional compliance activities. Water systems would also have to show consistent progress toward replacing lead pipes, with a minimum of 10% of lead pipes replaced each year. The EPA can enforce regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act with civil penalties or fines. New lead pipes have been banned in the US since the 1980s, but there are still 9.2 million lead service lines in America. Compliance with the proposed rule is estimated to cost billions of dollars, but a cost-benefit analysis presented with the proposal suggests that the benefits would be four to 10 times greater. And the benefits are largely centered around public health prevention, such as protecting against IQ loss among children, preventable death and disease, and more. Read the Biden Harris Administration announcement here. According to the EPA, Pennsylvania ranks fourth for underground lead pipes.
Source: CNN; 11/30/2023