Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a collaboration with the city of Niles, Ohio, to identify and replace drinking water lead pipes, aiming to protect public health. This initiative is part of EPA’s Get the Lead Out program, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which seeks to achieve 100% lead service line replacement nationwide. The program will provide technical assistance to approximately 200 communities across the country.
Lead in drinking water poses serious health risks, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. To address this issue, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $15 billion for replacing lead pipes and ensuring clean water access. Many underserved communities lack resources for planning lead pipe replacements and accessing federal investments; thus, the technical assistance from the Get the Lead Out initiative aims to ensure no community is left behind.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is driving historic levels of funding to replace lead service lines in communities like Niles across the country,” said Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “EPA is using every tool available, including regulation, funding, and this technical assistance initiative, to get the lead out of the nation’s drinking water once and for all.”
Under this initiative, EPA will assist Niles with critical steps such as identifying lead pipes and educating the public about them. These efforts are expected to help Niles move swiftly towards achieving a lead-free future for its residents.
According to revisions in the Lead and Copper Rule, all public water utilities must prepare and maintain an inventory of service line materials by October 16, 2024, or sooner if required by state agencies. Communities seeking assistance with lead service line replacement can request it through EPA's WaterTA website.
Signed into law in 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $50 billion investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, dedicating over $15 billion specifically for replacing lead service lines. The EPA aims to ensure that every community—especially underserved and disadvantaged ones—can access these investments through various technical assistance programs like Get the Lead Out.
As part of a broader effort by the Biden-Harris Administration to tackle lead exposure under the Justice40 InitiativeExit EPA’s website banner, EPA intends to remove barriers hindering lead pipe removal. This collaborative effort focuses on protecting marginalized communities disproportionately affected by pollution.
EPA remains committed to offering meaningful opportunities for community and state support through peer exchange and learning initiatives. Through Get the Lead Out, tools and case studies will be developed to share best practices among agency officials, state and Tribal programs, water system managers, and community leaders.
