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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today applauded the Biden Administration’s final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI).

“Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right, and the science is clear – no amount of lead in drinking water is safe. There are millions of people across the country that don’t even know if they are drinking lead, and I’ve had parents come up to me with tears in their eyes, worried for the wellbeing of their children because of the lead in school water,” Dingell said. “I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued commitment to replacing every lead service line in our country to guarantee access to safe water for every community and finally give peace of mind to families.”

The final rule requires drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold for communities to take action on lead in drinking water to protect people from lead exposure. In addition, the final rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them. This final rule delivers on President Biden’s clear vision to replace every lead pipe in the country within a decade, making sure that all communities can turn on the tap and drink clean water.  

Earlier this year, Dingell joined colleagues in writing to the Biden-Harris Administration urging them to strengthen their initial Lead and Copper Rule proposal, and to promptly issue a final rule. Dingell championed the inclusion of $15 billion in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to replace lead service lines and provide cleaner drinking water. She also led the Water Access Act that would direct $500 million to the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) for Fiscal Year 2024. LIHWAP provides critical funding for low-income households with their water and wastewater bills. 

Alongside the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, EPA is announcing $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will flow through the drinking water state revolving funds (SRFs) and is available to support lead-related activities, including lead pipe replacement projects. Additionally, 49% of the funding must be provided to disadvantaged communities as grants or other investments that do not have to be repaid. EPA is also announcing the availability of $35 million in competitive grant funding for reducing lead in drinking water. Communities are invited to apply directly for grant funding through this program.

Lead in drinking water irreparably harms the health of children and adults and disproportionately impacts lower-income communities and communities of color. Legacy lead pipes, which have delivered drinking water to homes for decades, have exposed generations of Americans to toxic lead and will continue to do so until they are removed. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and funding programs like the Drinking Water State Revolving fund (DWSRF) and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) have made historic federal investment available to remove lead pipes. To complement this historic opportunity, EPA’s technical assistance programs are helping disadvantaged communities access funding.