Wisconsin partners with EPA to replace lead service lines, improve drinking water in 10 communities

(UI) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox announced a partnership with the State of Wisconsin to assist 10 communities in accelerating progress toward lead service line identification and replacement, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to deliver clean drinking water to families and children and EPA’s “Lead Service Line Replacement Accelerators” initiative.

This initiative, which is in partnership with the Department of Labor and Wisconsin, will work to provide targeted technical assistance services to help underserved communities reduce exposure to lead in drinking water and to protect health of Wisconsin children and families. Together, the 10 Wisconsin communities represent areas where approximately 30 percent of all lead service lines are located in the state.

“For too long, communities across America have worried about whether they’re being exposed to lead from their drinking water,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “The partnership announced today in Wisconsin is a key step toward keeping communities safe from lead. Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the EPA is dedicating $15 billion in funding to get the lead out of drinking water systems—once and for all.”

EPA and the State of Wisconsin are working together with 10 communities – Beloit, Frederic, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Oshkosh, Racine, Superior, Wausau, West Allis, and Wisconsin Rapids – to provide the assistance they need to identify lead pipes, remove them, and access Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds needed for the work.

Through the Accelerators, EPA provides hands-on support to guide communities through the process of lead service line removals, from start to finish. This includes support in developing lead service line replacement plans, conducting inventories to identify lead pipes, increasing community outreach and education efforts, and supporting applications for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. As a result, more communities will be able to access their fair share of federal funds to secure a lead-free future.

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dedicates $50 billion to upgrade and modernize drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure across America. To ensure every community can access their fair share of this unprecedented investment, EPA has established its WaterTA (Technical Assistance) initiative to ensure any community wanting to access these resources has an opportunity to do so.

“There is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for our kids, and my administration is committed to our continued work of ensuring every Wisconsinite can trust that the water coming from their tap is healthy, safe, and free of contaminants,” said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. “We have been hard at work to partner with local communities to do just that, and this additional support thanks to our partners at the federal government will accelerate our efforts to build a healthier, cleaner Wisconsin for all.”

“The city requires continued support from the federal government in order to remove lead pipes throughout the water system. This investment is part of our commitment to ensuring residents have safe, clean drinking water,” said Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian. “These programs provide resources to communities and residents that might not otherwise have access to or the financial means to undertake lead service line replacements.”

“I was so inspired by what I heard and the people I met at the White House’s Lead Pipes Summit in January that it didn’t take long before we decided to fast-track the City of Wausau’s lead service line replacement schedule from fifteen years down to five years – starting next week,” said Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg.

In January, Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the Lead Service Line Replacement Accelerators as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to 100% lead service line removal. The initiative, in partnership with the Department of Labor, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin, is addressing existing barriers and accelerating progress towards lead service line identification and replacement. Communities interested in receiving WaterTA support for infrastructure projects can apply online.

EPA’s 7th Drinking Water Needs and Assessment Survey projects a national total of 9.2 million lead services lines across the country. The Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan outlines President Biden’s vision of lead-free water systems, and dedicated funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will greatly advance the goal of replacing 100% of lead service lines.

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