On October 8, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water. In addition, the final rule improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes, and plans for replacing them.
Alongside the LCRI, the EPA has announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support lead pipe replacement projects with $44 million coming to New Jersey. Additional federal funding is available to support lead pipe replacement projects and EPA has developed a website identifying available funding sources.
New Jersey enacted a law in 2021 that mandates water systems within the state replace all lead service lines within 10 years. The EPA’s final rule supplements New Jersey’s law and provides additional funding for water systems currently undertaking replacement.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.