Biden’s $Billion Plan to Eradicate Lead in Drinking Water

In a bid to avoid another water crisis reminiscent of Flint, Michigan, Biden’s administration has announced a slew of funding that will go towards ensuring towns have easy access to clean and safe drinking water.

Government’s Three Billion Dollar Initiative

Biden’s administration has just announced over three billion dollars in funding to ensure communities across the nation have access to clean water. 

Funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The money, funded from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure law, will go towards removing lead water service pipes across the country and replacing them with safe alternatives – with copper being the favorite material of choice. Service lines are pipes that deliver water from the water main to homes.

National Priority

The $3 billion released is part of over $50 billion earmarked in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for upgrading America’s water infrastructure – one of the biggest investments in clean water in American history. 

White House’s Multi-Year Plan

The newly released funding is expected to cover three years’ worth of lead pipe removal, with White House officials predicting it could mean almost 2 million fewer lead pipes by 2027.

President Biden’s Announcement

At a press conference in Wilmington, North Carolina, in which Biden announced the release of new funding, the president said, “These lead lines are tough, durable, and they don’t rust. But we’ve long since learned they leach poisonous toxins into our water.”

Lead’s Toxicity

He went on to say, “The science is clear. Lead service lines pose severe health risks, damaging brains and kidneys. In children especially, they stunt growth, slow learning, and cause lasting brain damage. But we know we can stop it. We know how to do it.”

Health Risks and Environmental Impact

In the past, pipes were made of lead due to its durability, but over time, science has revealed how lead is a neurotoxin that can leach into the water going through it, resulting in health issues for those exposed to it. 

Vulnerable Populations

Young kids, infants, and fetuses are the biggest risk, as their undeveloped immune systems place them at a far greater risk of nervous system damage, learning difficulties, and a host of other medical complications.

EPA Guidelines

Because lead accumulates in the body and poses health risks at even low exposure levels, the EPA has concluded that no level of lead is safe in the body. Some of the biggest risks from lead pipes are from water mains on streets that are connected to pipe fixtures in homes.

Long-Term Benefits

So far, the government has spent around $9 billion removing lead pipes across the country. While many think it is a costly investment, the long-term benefits far outweigh the price. 

Public Health Impact

The EPA predicts that getting rid of lead pipes will save thousands of lives and cut public health costs nationwide.

State Allocation of Funds

The government has allocated the money based on the number of lead pipes per state and throughout each territory.

Illinois Leading the Charge

Leading the way when it comes to lead pipe removal funding is Illinois, which has been granted over $240 million – the largest amount from the $3 billion. 

State Funding Breakdown

Other states that are going to benefit from the funds include Pennsylvania ($152 million), New York State ($129 million), New Jersey ($123 million), Michigan ($62 million), Virginia ($49 million), Tennessee ($84 million), North Carolina ($76 million), Denver ($32.8 million), Milwaukee ($41 million), Maryland ($29 million), Mississippi ($29 million), Kansas ($28.6 million), Montana ($28.6 million), Arizona ($28.6 million), Washington ($28 million), and Oregon ($28 million).

Health Study Findings

This news comes hot on the heels of a March study by medical journal JAMA Pediatrics, which found that an estimated 68% of children younger than six may be exposed to lead-contaminated water on a daily basis – with 19% of them using it as their main drinking water source.

Water Infrastructure Upgrades

In addition to just fixing lead pipes, the $50 billion in investment is making it easier for people to get clean drinking water, upgrading sewage and sanitation systems, and getting rid of harmful chemicals like Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) from water. 

Clean Drinking Water Access

The government has started more than 1,400 of these projects so far to make sure everyone has access to clean water.

The post – Biden’s $Billion Plan to Eradicate Lead in Drinking Water – first appeared on Mechanic Insider.

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