Biden administration announces requirement to replace lead pipes
Oct 9, 2024, 10:15 AM
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the federal government's response to Hurricane Helene and preparations for Hurricane Milton in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, the Biden Administration announced a requirement for lead pipes to be replaced. Every lead pipe within drinking water systems across the U.S. needs to be replaced in the next decade.
Following the announcement, the Environmental Protection Agency said it would provide nearly $25 million in funding to Utah to complete the replacements.
The EPA said the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements are designed to protect people from lead exposure. It is also requires stricter drinking water testing.
Currently, the maximum allowed lead content in drinking water is 0.25%. Lead pipes serve an estimated nine million homes, per the EPA.
Utah will also receive $3.9 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for lead pipe replacement. The department made its announcement in a second press release.
According to the Housing and Urban Development Department’s Acting Secretary, Adrianne Todman, “addressing lead poisoning is a top issue.”
Additionally, the EPA website said Biden’s improved lead and copper rules require better communication with community members about lead pipe locations and the risk of consuming lead.
The dangers of lead
Per the EPA, corroded materials containing lead can leach them into water. Lead pipes and fixtures, such as faucets, are the most common contributors of lead into drinking water.
According to the World Health Organization, lead exposure is dangerous to every part of the body and no level is safe.
While it is harmful to anyone, it is particularly detrimental to children. The WHO said that when ingesting the same dose, a child’s body could absorb up to five times the amount of an adult.
Repeated exposure can lead to the accumulation of the toxin. After it enters the body, the lead spreads to organs, the brain, and bones.
The Centers for Disease Control said that lead exposure can lead to developmental issues in children, neurological effects in adults, many other ailments, or even death. The CDC website provides a full list of the impacts lead poisoning can have.
“EPA continues to deliver water investments that are eliminating health risks across all communities, including those most affected by aging infrastructure,” said KC Becker, the EPA regional administrator.
Related: Zion’s first California Condor dies from lead poisoning
