The Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) released a new report, From the Ground Up: A Guide to Replacing the Nation’s Toxic Lead Pipes Over the Next Decade, to highlight best practices for municipalities, communities, and policymakers on replacing lead pipes quickly, efficiently, and equitably - and over the next decade.
The report can be accessed here.
The report is timed with the one-year anniversary of the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan. This milestone, along with historic funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), represent momentum created by the federal government for replacing the nation’s toxic lead pipes. EPIC’s report highlights the policies and practices that can help ensure that they are replaced over the next decade to address public health concerns.
“Today, we have momentum like we have not seen in our lifetimes on the side of faster, efficient, and equitable lead pipe replacement,” said Maureen Cunningham, Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Water at EPIC. “Though slow is the easy path forward, it’s not acceptable. No one should be drinking lead-contaminated water when the solutions are at hand. We need to seize the momentum now to ensure more communities are on a path to lead-free water over the next decade. Our guide covers what we believe are the necessary ingredients for successful lead pipe replacement.”
The report draws from EPIC’s Lead Free Water Challenge and work with Blue Conduit, Center for Geospatial Solutions, WaterPIO, and other partners to help small and medium-sized municipalities replace lead pipes, including Chelsea, MA; Hazel Crest, IL; and Newburgh, NY.
“The Village of Hazel Crest has been happy to work with the Environmental Policy Innovation Center and other partners on the Lead-Free Water Challenge, and getting the lead out in our municipality. Village President Vernard L. Alsberry and our Board of Trustees understands that the identification and removal of lead service lines throughout the Village is an important goal. Sharing best practices through this report gets more municipalities around the country closer to that goal,” said Dante Sawyer, Village Manager.
“The City of Newburgh's partnership with the Environmental Policy Innovation Center and other groups working on lead service line replacement is a great step in the right direction towards a lead-free water distribution system,” said Wayne Vradenburgh, City of Newburgh Water Superintendent. “Our commitment to our customers for high quality drinking water is and always will be our top priority.”
“Clear, consistent, and proactive public communication has long served as the backbone for success with any sensitive matter a water provider might face, let alone their compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule,” said Mike McGill, President of WaterPIO and LeadCopperRule.com. “This report combines existing expertise with lessons learned during EPIC’s Lead-Free Water Challenge to provide water professionals with a roadmap they can use to help them succeed during their lead service line inventory and replacement work. We’re proud to have taken part in such an invaluable effort.”
“Lead service line replacement is essential to protecting our drinking water and ensuring a safe, healthy environment for all. The Center for Geospatial Solutions works with communities to provide technology, resources, and support to make this important process more efficient, cost-effective, and successful,” said Anne Scott, Executive Director at the Center for Geospatial Solutions
"An actionable inventory is a key step to replacing lead service lines successfully,” said Ian Robinson, President/COO at BlueConduit. “We have been thrilled to work with EPIC and other partners to support communities in getting the lead out of the ground as quickly and efficiently as possible. Sharing the lessons we have learned will position more communities for successful lead service line replacement.”
