President Joe Biden has announced a 10-year timeline for cities across the U.S. to replace their lead water pipes, marking a significant step toward ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans. The new initiative, finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sets the strictest regulations on lead in water in over 30 years, underscoring the administration’s commitment to clean drinking water.
Biden is expected to unveil the final rule on Tuesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a state central to the 2024 election campaign. Vice President Kamala Harris, who has championed the issue of water safety, is a key supporter of the initiative. The new rule replaces a less stringent standard set during the Trump administration, which did not mandate a nationwide lead pipe replacement.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris see this as a moral imperative,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “Lead has been in our pipes for decades, and the science is clear: there is no safe level of lead in our drinking water.”
Lead, a neurotoxin found in pipes, paint, and other materials, poses severe health risks, especially to children. It can cause developmental issues, reduce IQ, and contribute to behavioral problems. Adults are also at risk, with lead exposure linked to increased blood pressure and other health complications. The EPA estimates that the new standard will prevent up to 900,000 low birthweight cases in infants and save 1,500 lives annually by reducing heart disease-related deaths.
Under the new rules, water systems will need to ensure that lead concentrations in drinking water do not exceed 10 parts per billion, down from the current limit of 15 parts per billion. The changes also revise how lead is measured, potentially leading to more cities being identified as having dangerously high lead levels. Water utilities will be required to alert the public and take immediate action to lower lead exposure, including providing water filters.
Lead pipes are most commonly found in older, industrial cities, disproportionately affecting low-income communities. Cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee, where Biden is making his announcement, are among the hardest hit. The rule provides a 10-year timeline for cities to comply, although some larger cities may receive extended deadlines.
To support this initiative, the EPA is making $2.6 billion available through the bipartisan infrastructure law, along with $35 million in competitive grants. Despite the federal funding, the total cost of replacing lead pipes nationwide is expected to far exceed the initial $15 billion allocated in 2021.
The rule comes as the administration also pushes for stricter standards on harmful chemicals known as PFAS, part of a broader effort to improve public health.