The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule on Tuesday requiring the replacement of all lead drinking-water pipes within the next 10 years, a significant step to protect public health from the long-term effects of lead exposure. The new rule updates the Lead and Copper Rule and aims to eliminate the health risks tied to lead in drinking water.
This regulatory action follows the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021, which allocated $15 billion for lead pipe replacement. The updated rule enforces more stringent testing of water systems and lowers the threshold for action in communities to mitigate lead exposure.
Public Health Protection and Enhanced Transparency
EPA Administrator Michael Regan stressed the importance of the rule in addressing a persistent public health crisis. “For decades, we’ve known that lead exposure has severe impacts on children’s health, yet millions of homes still receive drinking water through lead pipes,” Regan said. “This administration is ensuring that no community, regardless of race or income, will have to worry about lead-contaminated water.”
