SEATTLE – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Mon., May 6 that $28,650,000 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be going towards the identification and replacing of lead service lines in Washington.
The EPA says the replacing of lead piping will prevent the exposure of lead in drinking water, which can have serious health impacts, one of which including the stunting of brain development in children.
“In 2024, no household in America should be turning on their water and wondering if it is safe to drink,” said Washington Senator Patty Murray in a statement. “This investment will help communities across our state upgrade water infrastructure to ensure families have access to the clean, safe drinking water they deserve. I helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in the Senate, which included historic new funding for clean drinking water, and as Appropriations Chair, I fought to protect these essential resources in this year’s funding bills. This funding will help make critical upgrades—and I am going to keep fighting to secure the resources we need so every family has clean drinking water.”
Up to 1.7 million lead pipes are expected to be replaced nationwide, with Biden’s Justice40 initiative aiming to ensure that 40 percent of the benefits will reach disadvantaged communities. The EPA notes that lead exposure disproportionately affects low-income families and communities of color.
The funding comes from Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests $15 billion into the replacement of lead service lines nationwide.
