October 08, 2024
“The Environmental Law & Policy Center welcomes the U.S. EPA’s final federal Lead & Copper Rule and the Biden administration’s actions to speed up lead service pipe replacements. Lead in drinking water has long been known to cause brain damage in young children and cause additional long-term disabilities. Chicago, unfortunately, has more lead service pipes than any other city in the U.S., and Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati are among the remaining “top ten” cities with harmful lead service pipes.
“We welcome President Biden coming to Milwaukee to make this important announcement. Milwaukee, like Chicago, is among the top cities with lead lines and this final rule accelerates the schedule for getting the lead pipes out.
“Everyone should have safe, lead-free water in their homes. We applaud the Biden administration and the U.S. EPA for finalizing a new strong Lead & Copper Rule that imposes deadlines to protect public health from lead in drinking water, requires full replacements of lead lines, and guarantees public access to information on lead lines in their communities There is more work to be done to ensure safe drinking water for all, but this final rule is a major step toward getting lead pipes out of our drinking water systems.”