Households face costs as lead pipe replacements roll out nationwide
- The EPA has introduced new rules to replace lead service lines in the U.S. to promote clean drinking water.
- While federal funding is available, experts claim compliance costs could exceed initial estimates, potentially reaching over $90 billion.
- There are concerns that higher costs will ultimately fall on consumers through increased water bills.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently established new rules aimed at replacing lead service lines throughout the country within ten years. This initiative, crucial for ensuring access to clean drinking water, is partly driven by the devastating public health crisis in Flint, Michigan. The EPA estimates that approximately 9 million homes currently have lead pipes, and compliance with the new regulations could cost between $1.47 billion and $1.95 billion annually. While the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates significant funding, including $15 billion specifically for lead pipe replacement, industry representatives argue that these estimates may be too low and could lead to increased costs for consumers. Water utility associations, including the American Water Works Association, project that national lead service line replacements could exceed $90 billion, meaning resulting expenses may heavily impact water bills across communities. As such, there are concerns that utility companies may rely on ratepayers to cover the shortfall in funding. Furthermore, state agencies, such as New Mexico's Environment Department, express cautious optimism about the provided federal funding's adequacy, stating that actual costs won't be clear until there’s an accurate count of lead pipelines. Ultimately, stakeholders stress the importance of robust federal support to ensure the success of this essential public health initiative.