EPA announces $30M to reduce lead in drinking water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $30 million in grant funding for six municipalities’ projects, through the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, to address lead contamination and remove lead pipes nationwide.

“A pillar of our work at EPA is ensuring that every person in every community has safe drinking water,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “The science on lead is settled — there is no safe level of exposure. This grant funding will help reduce exposure to lead in drinking water and should be used to support underserved communities that are most at risk for exposure.”

The selected projects are:

National Priority Area 1 – Reduction of Lead Exposure in the Nation’s Drinking Water Systems through Infrastructure and Treatment Improvements

• City of Trenton - $5,530,000
• City of Fall River - $10,000,000
• Detroit Water and Sewerage Dept - $5,000,000

National Priority Area 2 – Reduction of Children’s Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities

• Hawaii Dept of Health - $2,000,000
• School District of Philadelphia - $4,999,658
• Rural Community Assistance Partnership - $3,650,000

EPA says that the selected projects will assist disadvantaged communities and schools with removing sources of lead in drinking water. In addition to those funds, the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water WIIN grant program also awarded over $1M in grant awards toward tribal lead reduction projects coordinated through interagency agreements between Indian Health Services and EPA.