U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently approved Denver Water's comprehensive approach for reducing lead in drinking water.
The plan includes issuing a final variance under the Safe Water Drinking Act which will allow Denver Water to implement the Lead Reduction Program Plan, according to a Dec. 1 news release.
"Denver Water's approach to tackling lead in drinking water has been remarkable and an example for other communities across the country," EPA Region 8 Administrator KC Becker said in the news release. "Thanks to new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the utility's customers can expect an even faster lead service line replacement schedule delivering health protections for children and adults across the Denver area."
Denver Water is also receiving $76 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate pace of the city's lead service line replacement, as specified in the city's program, the release reported.
Denver Water plans to continue the replacement of all lead service lines, control lead corrosion with pH and alkalinity treatment, determine where lead service lines still exist that connect homes and buildings to water mains, provide water pitcher filtration to customers with lead service lines and its extensive community outreach and education, according to the release.
"Denver Water's first priority is sustaining our communities by protecting the health of our customers," Denver Water CEO/Manager Jim Lochhead said in the release. "We thank EPA and our community partners for working with us to ensure we successfully implement this program. The water we deliver to our customers is lead-free, but lead from customer-owned service lines can enter the water supply to homes. Removing these lines is the most effective way to eliminate this source of lead exposure, and we are committed to this program until every lead service line has been removed."
