In October 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule mandating the replacement of lead service lines that connect water mains to residential properties, affecting over 9 million service lines nationwide.

This federal rule is expected to incur costs ranging from $45 billion to $90 billion, with the EPA asserting that the public health benefits will significantly outweigh these expenses.

Federal funding for this initiative includes $15 billion from the 2021 infrastructure law and an additional $11.7 billion in state-administered drinking water funds, although local governments remain concerned about affordability.

Local leaders are actively seeking a combination of federal money, bonds, and grants to support their replacement efforts, while also navigating potential funding diversions from Congress.

While states and water utilities agree on the necessity of replacing lead pipes to ensure safe drinking water, they express concerns about meeting the 10-year deadline and the financial burden on ratepayers.

Utilities have until 2027 to draft their replacement plans, followed by a decade to execute the replacements, but challenges such as contractor availability and material shortages are anticipated.

Workforce and supply chain limitations are expected to complicate the nationwide push to replace lead pipes, prompting states to develop training programs to address labor shortages.

Environmental advocates argue that water utilities should shoulder the costs of replacing lead lines to prevent exacerbating financial burdens on low-income residents.

States like Michigan and New Jersey have already implemented their own lead replacement laws and funding measures, with Michigan aiming to be the first state to completely remove lead service lines.

Chicago, facing the largest number of lead pipes in the country with an estimated 400,000, has been given a 20-year timeline to meet replacement goals due to funding and logistical challenges.

Critics, including Tom Dobbins, CEO of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, have voiced concerns that the Biden administration has underestimated the costs associated with lead pipe replacement.

The EPA estimates that the rule will prevent 1,500 premature deaths annually and protect 900,000 infants, highlighting the critical public health implications of replacing lead pipes.