The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a partnership with the village of Maywood, Illinois, to expedite the replacement of lead water pipes and enhance public health protection. This initiative is part of the EPA’s Get the Lead Out Initiative, funded by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which aims for 100% lead service line replacement nationwide. The program will offer technical assistance to around 200 communities across the country.
Consuming lead in drinking water can have severe health impacts, including irreversible damage to brain development in children. To mitigate these risks, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated $15 billion for lead pipe replacement and nearly $241 million specifically for Illinois this year. An additional $11.7 billion has been directed to the General Supplemental Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for similar purposes. However, many underserved communities lack resources to plan and access federal investments for lead pipe replacement. The technical assistance from the Get the Lead Out Initiative aims to ensure equitable access to these opportunities.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is driving historic levels of funding to replace lead service lines in communities like Maywood 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.”
Senator Dick Durbin emphasized that clean drinking water is a fundamental human right and praised Congress's foresight in passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: “Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law knowing how our communities, especially those in underserved areas, continue to live with the threat of lead-contaminated drinking water.”
Senator Tammy Duckworth highlighted her commitment to ensuring all families have access to clean water: “Making sure all families have access to clean water is important to me... Now I’m proud that the Biden-Harris Administration’s Get the Lead Out program is continuing to prioritize getting the lead out of pipes in Illinois communities like Maywood.”
Representative Danny K. Davis expressed pride in contributing to legislation that invests billions in replacing lead pipes: “I thank Maywood Mayor Nathaniel George Booker for embracing this opportunity to improve the quality of water and public health of our communities.”
Mayor Nathaniel George Booker underscored water's vital role in health: “I am excited to have the collaboration and partnership of the federal government to help us address this more than $100 million issue within the Village of Eternal Light.”
Business owner Tori Garron shared personal concerns about safe drinking water: “Quality drinking water is crucial for children's health because their smaller bodies are more susceptible... Thank you, EPA, and the GLO program for making our youth and community a priority.”
Under this initiative, EPA will assist Maywood in identifying lead pipes, enhancing community outreach and education efforts, and applying for funding towards achieving 100% lead-free pipes.
The EPA estimates there are about 9 million lead service lines still in use across the country. Communities seeking assistance with lead service line replacement can request support through EPA’s WaterTA website.
Background:
Signed into law in 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $50 billion investment in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. This includes $15 billion dedicated specifically for replacing lead service lines and an additional $11.7 billion towards other related funds. The EPA aims to ensure that every community can benefit from this unprecedented investment through various Water Technical Assistance programs like Get The Lead Out Initiative.
As part of a broader governmental effort against lead exposure, EPA will aid communities by removing barriers to pipe replacement through developing tools and sharing best practices among stakeholders.
