🔎Legislative Scanner
Check out EPIC's legislative scanner to keep track of all the state LSL bills worth keeping an eye on.
Federal Updates
EPA announces $26 million for lead in schools
EPA announced a $26 million annual allotment through its WIIN: Reducing Lead Where Children Learn grant program. The funding helps states and territories address lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities.
EPIC’s take: 👏Protecting children’s health means taking a holistic approach to reducing exposure wherever they spend time. Since 2018, this program has dedicated $300 million to testing drinking water and replacing lead pipes and fixtures in schools and childcare facilities. Continued investment in these settings is important, but children also need protection at home. This is why we hope Congress steps up and commits to including dedicated lead service line (LSL) replacement funding in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) reauthorization.
Local Updates
🏆Wins
Erie Water Works, PA nears completion of a major replacement milestone. Erie Water Works launched its replacement program in 2021 to replace 7,5000 gooseneck connections. Today fewer than 100 remain. The utility also plans to replace all galvanized lines requiring replacement, including those on private property.
EPIC’s take: 👍Being proactive can save time. Erie Water Works decided to replace lead connectors even without a mandate, giving the utility time to establish a program and build momentum before federal funding became available. Having that groundwork in place can make it easier for communities to put new funding to work quickly.
💡Spotlight
Syracuse, NY mayor pushes to ramp up LSL replacement. Mayor Sharon Owens met with community members and state legislators to discuss lead in drinking water and the need to accelerate the city’s replacement efforts. She voiced support for a state bill that would codify the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) at the state level and make it easier for utilities to replace privately owned service lines. But funding remains a major concern: the city still has an ~17,000 service lines to replace, at an estimated cost of $15,000–$20,000 per line.
EPIC’s take: 🚩Legislation can help but it’s only a partial solution. The proposed bill could help water utilities overcome private-property barriers, but funding will remain a major obstacle especially as federal dollars wind down. Governor Hochul's allocation of $127 million in Clean Water Infrastructure Act funding for LSL replacement is a welcome investment, but it represents only a fraction of the statewide need. Communities will need sustained state and federal investment to complete replacements by the federal 2037 deadline.
Want to learn more?
Visit EPIC's LSL Policy Lowdown page, LSL Replacement Initiative page, and our Lead Innovation Hub.
