It’s curious how nine million pipes were allowed to remain a threat to public health, given what is known about the effects of lead.
Lead poisoning can cause irreversible damage to the nervous system and the brain and poses a particular risk to infants and children, impairing their cognitive development and causing behavioral disorders. […] Digging up and replacing the nation’s lead pipes to address that health risk will be a colossal undertaking. The E.P.A. estimates that water utilities must replace about nine million lead pipes at a total cost of $20 billion to $30 billion over a decade. While much of that cost will fall to the utilities, and most likely their customers, $15 billion in federal funding is also available under the 2021 infrastructure law to help pay for the effort. On Tuesday, the E.P.A. announced $2.6 billion in new funding to support lead pipe replacement.
It’s for the safety of children, which should not be controversial.
In related news: 70% of utilities inspected in the last year failed to meet the EPA’s voluntary cybersecurity standards.
