On:
In: Agricultural runoff, Combined sewer overflows, Drinking Water, Environmental Justice, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Lead service lines
Donald Jodrey headshot.
Don Jodrey, Director of Federal Government Relations

On July 4th, President Donald Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” or “OBBBA.” Now that OBBBA is law, the focus in Congress turns to funding the government and passing legislation that is required to renew, or “reauthorize,” federal programs in the new fiscal year that starts October 1st.  

On the funding side, the President’s proposed budget recommends deep cuts that would threaten the health of the Great Lakes and the people who depend on them. Congressional Republicans are unlikely to accept the full cuts, as some in their leadership have spoken out against some of the proposals, but important funding is still likely to be scaled back. Among the cuts would be funding to replace dangerous lead pipes, fix leaky pipes, and stop sewage overflows from entering our lakes and people’s homes. 

On the fight to reauthorize key programs, there are some potentially positive signs, though some of the renewed programs may end up with less funding. Programs up for reauthorization cover fisheries management, water infrastructure, managing invasive carp, and on-the-ground restoration projects, from wetland restoration to cleaning up toxic hot spots. 

At the Alliance, we’re following these developments closely and working to ensure that federal programs and policies protect and restore the clean, fresh water of the Great Lakes in a manner that promotes a sustainable economy and environment for Great Lakes residents. 

The administration’s budget proposal threatens the Great Lakes, our public health, and our environment 

The first order of business is Congressional action on the 12 annual spending bills that Congress must enact before the end of September, when the new fiscal year begins and current government funding runs out.    

The FY 2026 President’s Budget that was submitted to Congress this spring proposes sweeping cuts to many federal agencies that significantly reduce domestic discretionary spending. For the Great Lakes, the proposed cuts risk the health of residents who rely upon the lakes as a source of drinking water because the budget proposes to eliminate nearly all of the $3 billion in water infrastructure funding that is provided annually to states. These steep cuts would make it difficult for Great Lakes states to address water infrastructure backlogs, replace lead service lines, address contaminant issues such as PFAS, and provide principal forgiveness for disadvantaged communities that struggle to construct expensive drinking and wastewater infrastructure because they may lack the tax base to do so. These are just a few of the problems with proposing to eliminate nearly $3 billion in annual federal funding that supports water infrastructure needs nationally. Information gathered by the Environmental Protection Agency indicates that the national backlog of water infrastructure needs is growing, not diminishing, over the next 20 years.  

Although Congressional Republicans solidly supported the President in passing OBBBA, Congressional Republicans are unlikely to accept the proposed FY 2026 proposed budget cuts, as key Republicans in leadership positions have spoken out against some of the proposed cuts. As a result, on the House side where the individual appropriations subcommittees have begun to “mark up” the annual spending bills, the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree with the Administration to eliminate water infrastructure funds to states for both the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (“SRFs”).   

Notwithstanding this opposition to the Administration’s proposal, they did propose significant cuts totaling $661.9 million, or approximately 24%, of the funds for the nation’s primary source of water infrastructure funding. This means that the Great Lakes States will collectively lose $137.1 million. This loss is ameliorated by the fact that some Members of Congress from Great Lakes states pursued “Community Project Funding” where they directed funds from within these large federal appropriations to water infrastructure projects in their districts. If a Member of Congress secured such community-specific funding, the overall loss to their state is less than it would have been. The 24% cut to water infrastructure funding combined with the Community Project Funding would result in the following changes to water infrastructure funding compared to last year: 

StateChange in federal water infrastructure funding
Illinois + $800,000
Indiana – $20,200,000
Michigan – $2,100,000
Minnesota + $28,800,000
New York– $53,200,000
Ohio – $23,500,000
Pennsylvania– $34,200,000
Wisconsin – $33,500,000

Although House Republicans are not fully embracing the Administration’s proposed cuts to water infrastructure funding, SRF funding to states under the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee mark-up is less than last year, which is problematic for the reasons discussed above.

Similarly, Congressional Republicans on the House side are also not accepting the Administration’s proposal to eliminate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (“NOAA”) Office of Atmospheric Research, which funds numerous research facilities around the country and also in the Great Lakes, including the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (“GLERL”) in Ann Arbor, MI and the related research organization housed there known as the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research or “CIGLR.” CIGLR is a public-private partnership of 10 research universities throughout the region, non-governmental organizations, and local governmental partners who tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the Great Lakes. These challenges include the monitoring of harmful algal blooms, or “HABs,” which are produced by agricultural runoff. CIGLR monitors HAB outbreaks, which occur during the summer months, to ensure that the Great Lakes drinking water in areas affected by HABs is safe to drink and to protect swimmers and fishermen from the effects of HABs – which can be fatal. Although the details are not yet available, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science marked up its bill this week and proposes to only decrease NOAA’s Office of Atmospheric Research by $257 million, which leaves intact most of these functions. We have yet to determine whether GLERL or CIGLR is fully funded and able to maintain the functions it provides to Great Lakes States. 

On the other side of the Capitol, the Senate has only started its process to develop the 12 annual spending bills and two senior Senators, Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine (who voted against OBBBA) and Interior Appropriations Chair Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have expressed doubts about supporting the Administration’s proposed cuts. The Senate’s Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science has begun to consider its bill funding NOAA programs, but halted its markup this week where it added back approximately $650 million for NOAA’s Office of Atmospheric Research. No further details are available on the Senate markup as it is not complete, but Senate Republicans are also not fully on board with the Administration’s funding proposals. 

Although there is a great deal of uncertainty over how Congress will resolve its differences with the Administration on the FY 2026 budget, and the Congress must also consider a package of “rescissions” recently proposed by the Administration (canceling prior year spending), it is clear that the House and Senate are unlikely to pass any of the individual spending bills before Congress recesses in August. After Labor Day, Congress will devote its time to issues associated with enacting a budget for FY 2026 that begins on October 1st. Given this attenuated schedule, it is possible that there will be one or more continuing resolutions for FY 2026 which just extend current levels of annual funding for a period of time. We will closely monitor these developments and let you know how the annual funding process is unfolding. 

Bipartisan support for continuing Great Lakes programs

With respect to other legislative issues affecting the Great Lakes, including reauthorization for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, reauthorization for the Great Lakes Fishery Reauthorization Act, reauthorization for the Clean Water Act’s State Revolving Funds, and the implementation of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project in Joliet, Illinois, that is intended to halt invasive carp from getting into Lake Michigan, there are some positive developments. 

First, President Trump has publicly announced his support for both the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (or “GLRI”) as well as the Brandon Road Project. For GLRI, which the Administration proposes to fund at last year’s enacted level, the bipartisan reauthorization bill, which has been reintroduced in both the House and Senate, has attracted numerous bipartisan cosponsors and is likely to pass during this session of Congress, which ends in 2026. We are working closely with a bipartisan group of Great Lakes Members of Congress to ensure that the bill moves through both the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, passes the House and Senate, and becomes law. 

For the Brandon Road Project, President Trump issued a memorandum earlier this year directing federal agencies to move expeditiously to implement the project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”), which initiated project construction in late 2024, is doing just that. All contracts for the first phase of project construction are issued, and work is well underway. The Corps is working diligently with its local partners, the States of Illinois and Michigan, to get ready for the next phase of construction (slated to begin in the fall of 2026), which requires an additional transfer of lands from the State of Illinois to the Corps. This land transfer is scheduled to occur before September 2025 so that the Corps may begin site testing and preparation of these lands and remediation of any contamination as necessary. No additional federal funding is needed until FY 2027, and the project is on track thanks to the diligent work of the States of Illinois and Michigan and the Corps. 

Other legislative reauthorizations are moving, with the schedule largely dictated by the Administration’s transition, which is unprecedented in scope in terms of actions that affect federal agency budgets, staffing, regulations and policy, as well as judicial review. At the Alliance, we work to stay on top of these changes and to inform and educate decision-makers on the effects of proposed actions. As another source of good news, the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act just passed the House this week and may now be considered by the Senate. Work is also underway among authorizing staff to prepare for the reauthorization of the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which must be reauthorized by the end of 2026; we are working that issue as well. 

We will continue working on all these issues as they move through Congress. We are hopeful that the Administration’s support for both GLRI and Brandon Road, and the awareness of how numerous federal programs support the Great Lakes and its people, will result in final actions on funding and legislating that protect the Great Lakes. 

If you have any concerns about proposals and actions in the federal legislative or executive branch that are being considered, we encourage you to contact your Congressional representative to express your views using the action alert below.

Tell Congress: Don’t Cut Critical Great Lakes Programs

Congress is considering budget proposals that could devastate our nation’s ability to protect the Great Lakes, public health, and our regional economy.

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The post Critical Months Ahead for the Great Lakes in Congress  appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2025/07/critical-months-ahead-for-the-great-lakes-in-congress/

tfazzini

On:
In: Lead service lines

Columbus, OH (May 21, 2025) — Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) introduced important legislation designed to eliminate all lead water lines that still exist in the state of Ohio. The Lead Line Replacement Act aims to get the lead out of Ohio’s drinking water systems by requiring all public water systems to fully replace lead service lines within 15 years. The legislation includes key provisions that support workforce development and ensure that low- and moderate-income customers will not be burdened by the cost of lead line replacement.

Organizations — including the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the Junction Coalition, and Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund — applauded the legislative efforts.

Ohio currently ranks third in the nation for the most lead pipes serving families, with an estimated 745,000 still in use. Removing these lead lines is critical to protecting Ohioans from the threat of lead exposure in drinking water. Health experts agree, exposure to lead, even at low levels, can cause serious health effects in all age groups, but especially in children. Lead poisoning from consuming contaminated water can cause irreversible brain damage in children that may take years to emerge. Exposure during adulthood increases the risk of heart disease as well as kidney and nervous system problems. A report completed by Scioto Analysis shows the monetized social benefit of full lead pipe replacement will grow Ohio’s economy by between $145 and $185 billion cumulatively over the next 15 years.

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Annalisa Rocca, Drinking Water Manager for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund:

“Many Ohioans are practically drinking water from a lead straw due to the state’s 745,000 active lead service lines. The Lead Line Replacement Act is a powerful bipartisan bill that is a step forward for Ohio’s communities and families. It sends a clear message that clean, safe drinking water isn’t a partisan issue; it’s a basic human need that deserves action. The Lead Line Replacement Act is more than smart policy, it reflects a shared commitment to protecting public health, supporting jobs, and building a stronger, healthier Ohio.”

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Meleah Geertsma, Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Director of Clean Water and Equity.

“There are no safe levels of lead. The Lead Line Replacement Act will bring huge health and economic benefits to the region by reducing negative impacts to child development and improving cardiovascular health.”

The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Archie Beasley, Program Director for the Junction Coalition.

“We need a comprehensive approach to getting the lead out in Ohio. It starts with the Ohio Lead Line Replacement Act, which will remove and replace the lead water lines that bring water into the homes in our communities.”

###

Contact: Karlena Wallace, Communications Director, Ohio Environmental Council, media@theoec.org or 614-487-7506

Replacing Lead Water Pipes

Lead pipes that carry drinking water into homes pose a serious health concern for many Great Lakes residents. Great Lakes states have some of the highest numbers of lead pipes in the nation.

Learn More

The post Environmental Organizations Celebrate Bipartisan Bill to Remove Ohio’s Lead Service Lines to Improve Drinking Water appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2025/05/environmental-organizations-celebrate-bipartisan-bill-to-remove-ohios-lead-service-lines-to-improve-drinking-water/

Judy Freed

On:
In: Agricultural runoff, Combined sewer overflows, Drinking Water, Environmental Justice, great lakes restoration, invasive species, Lead service lines
Donald Jodrey headshot.
Don Jodrey, Director of Federal Government Relations

The Trump Administration’s proposed FY 2026 President’s Budget slashes federal non-defense spending and proposes steep cuts to federal programs that protect and restore the Great Lakes and the communities that depend on them.  

The White House proposal to cut federal funding threatens Great Lakes residents, putting their health and economic security at risk by defunding water infrastructure programs, important research and observation programs, and efforts to assist communities overburdened from pollution. At the top of the list is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“U.S. EPA”), with a proposed overall cut of 55% that would gut key water infrastructure programs that help pay for safe and clean drinking water, and stop sewage overflows, flooding, and basement backups. Also on the chopping block are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (-19%), the Interior Department (including the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Geologic Survey, -31%), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (-18%), all of which play key roles in restoring and protecting the Great Lakes through action on the ground and robust scientific research. Taken together, the White House proposal to gut federal funding not only threatens the Great Lakes but also sets up a showdown with Congress, which must decide whether to protect core funding for the programs it created or go along with the President’s proposed deep-cut budget. 

With water infrastructure needs growing, budget drastically cuts funding

Under this budget, U.S. EPA would abdicate a large portion of its federal responsibility and partnership with the states as set forth by Congress in both the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. And it comes at a time when water infrastructure needs are growing fast. Based on its 2023 Drinking Water Needs Information and Assessment Survey and its 2022 Clean Water Needs Survey, U.S. EPA estimates that Great Lakes states need at least $290.3 billion in water infrastructure investment over the next twenty years. Against this need, the proposed budget would decimate federal funding levels for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (“SRFs”) – the primary federal program for funding and financing water infrastructure projects – by nearly 90%. Such cuts threaten to destabilize states and communities struggling to ensure safe drinking water and protections from flooding and sewage. The Great Lakes states would see the following decreases in federal funding for water infrastructure programs: 

StateDecrease in federal water infrastructure funding
Illinois – $94.6 million 
Indiana – $57.5 million
Michigan – $84.1 million
Minnesota – $41.2 million
New York– $204.2 million
Ohio – $102.9 million
Pennsylvania– $89.2 million
Wisconsin – $55.6 million

While the states have built up funding in their state-administered SRFs since Congress established these programs, the states cannot meet the estimated water infrastructure needs on their own. The proposed budget ignores that federal funding plays key roles in state-administered SRFs. States rely heavily on federal funding to provide principal forgiveness or grant funding to disadvantaged communities that struggle to afford standard awards. States also use federal funding to help pay for staffing and technical assistance to communities, and to supplement repayable loan awards. U.S. EPA plays a key role in administering SRF funding, including assessing infrastructure needs on a regular basis to make sure funding goes to the states proportional to the need, and ensuring drinking water, stormwater, and sanitary system operators comply with standards that keep us and our waters safe. The White House’s blithe explanation that it is returning control of these programs to the states ignores the important federal partnership that has been underway since Congress first established these programs decades ago.  

Cuts threaten programs that protect Great Lakes from algal blooms, invasive species, and more

The administration’s budget also proposes a $1 billion reduction in EPA’s categorical grants. These programs support state efforts to implement Clean Water Act regulations, reduce lead in drinking water, reduce sources of non-point source pollution that fuels harmful algal blooms, assist small and disadvantaged communities struggling to implement water infrastructure programs, and develop a water workforce. Like the proposed reductions to the SRFs, the proposal to nearly eliminate all categorical grants upends important federalism goals for programs Congress established to deal with specific needs. 

As noted above, the budget also includes steep cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Interior Department (the Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geologic Survey and the National Park Service), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These cuts threaten the restoration of the Great Lakes by decreasing our ability to conduct scientific investigations, address runoff pollution and harmful algal blooms that threaten our drinking water, control invasive species to protect our fisheries, and protect national parks in the region. 

The cuts in the administration’s proposal would threaten the quality of the drinking water relied on by more than 30 million Americans in the Great Lakes region. The cuts would defer and delay action to stop sewage backups into homes and surface waters, replace failing septic systems, and solve chronic flooding. Access to safe and clean drinking water and freedom from flooding and sewage impacts are basic needs that should be guaranteed to all citizens and communities across the Great Lakes. 

Will Congress agree to such steep cuts?

The big question is whether Congress will agree to such steep reductions. The answer is unclear and, in some cases, such as the proposed $3.4 billion proposed cuts to water infrastructure programs, the answer may be a hard no. 

Just last week, in a display of bipartisan unity, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, under the leadership of Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), held its first hearing on water infrastructure funding with the goal of finalizing a bipartisan water infrastructure package that would reauthorize both the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds, as well as other water infrastructure grant programs like the Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act program. Sen. Capito, who played a leading role in negotiating the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) with its $50 billion investment in water infrastructure, extolled the federalism virtues of the SRFs and the important role they played in assisting states with meeting their water infrastructure needs and providing water services to underserved communities. Senator Capito, and the other senators attending the hearing including Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Senator Angela Alsobooks (D-MD) all praised the IIJA water infrastructure funding, noting the many projects underway in each of their states addressing important community needs, including upgrading treatment facilities, replacing aging systems, supporting the needs of rural and underserved communities, replacing lead service lines, and dealing with contaminants such as PFAS.  

The debate in the reauthorization of water infrastructure programs is not whether there will be the votes to pass the legislation, but how much control to give to states at the expense of federal oversight. These programs are designed to help states meet their obligations – and protect our health – under bedrock federal laws like the Clean Water Act. That is a very important question and one in which the answer has yet to emerge. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will be conducting other hearings on this topic and the House is expected to follow suit later this year. 

In the meantime, the appropriations process is well underway, and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have been working on the FY 2026 budget in anticipation of the start of the fiscal year this October. The Trump Administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal is just that, a proposal, and Congress will be evaluating the steep budget cuts. For our part at the Alliance, we will be meeting with members of the Great Lakes delegations to point out the many problems with the proposed cuts and working hard to ensure that the final budget package passed by the House and Senate protects and restores the Great Lakes. 

2025 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities

The federal government plays an essential role in protecting clean water.

Read More

The post Trump Budget Proposal Slashes Federal Funding, Threatens the Great Lakes and Sets Up Showdown With Congress   appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2025/05/trump-budget-proposal-slashes-federal-funding-threatens-the-great-lakes-and-sets-up-showdown-with-congress/

tfazzini

On:
In: Agricultural runoff, Drinking Water, Drinking water affordability, Environmental Justice, Lead service lines
L-R Helena Volzer, Senior Source Water Policy Manager, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Kayla Wilkerson, Director of Budget & Finance, Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus, Kaitlyn May, Policy Advisor, Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus, Scott Stockman, Legal Counsel, Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus, Melanie Houston, Managing Director of Water Policy & Chief of Organizational Planning, Ohio Environmental Council

On Thursday, January 30, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, alongside our partners—The Nature Conservancy, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, The Junction Coalition, and the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC)—came together at the Ohio Statehouse to address the state’s most pressing water issues. Water Advocacy Day was a powerful opportunity to engage with lawmakers, share policy solutions, and advocate for clean, safe, affordable water for all Ohioans.

During the event, Helena Volzer, the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Senior Source Water Policy Manager, led an insightful presentation on the critical impacts of agricultural pollution. She highlighted how excessive nutrients—especially nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers and manure—continue to fuel harmful algal blooms across the Great Lakes, posing serious risks to public health, aquatic ecosystems, and local economies. The financial burden of this pollution is often passed down to communities, increasing drinking water costs and placing an unfair strain on low-income households.

“Agricultural pollution isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a public health and economic issue,” Volzer emphasized. “If we don’t act now, Ohioans will continue to bear the rising water treatment costs while ecosystems suffer.”

Ohio ranks second in the nation for the number of lead service lines, and many older homes still contain lead-based plumbing. Efforts are underway to eliminate lead from drinking water systems, but progress remains slow. Combined with the challenges of harmful algal blooms and agricultural runoff, stronger policies and funding solutions are urgently needed.

Throughout the day, advocates and policy leaders met with state representatives, senators, and aides to push for solutions to prioritize clean water. These discussions emphasized the importance of critical funding for conservation programs such as the H2Ohio program, Ohio’s flagship program to address water quality issues including agricultural runoff, household sewage treatment and wastewater infrastructure, wetland creation, and lead service line replacement. The Alliance and its partners urged lawmakers to strengthen policies that hold polluters accountable, increase investment in clean water infrastructure, and ensure water affordability remains a top priority.

The fight for clean water continues, and Water Advocacy Day was a crucial step in the right direction. Every Ohioan deserves safe, lead-free, and affordable drinking water.

The post Water Advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse: A Call for Clean Water Policies appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2025/02/water-advocacy-at-the-ohio-statehouse-a-call-for-clean-water-policies/

Michelle Farley

On:
In: Climate change in the Great Lakes, Drinking Water, Drinking water affordability, Environmental Justice, Lead service lines, Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes

This year’s Healing Our Waters (HOW) Conference in Chicago brought together advocates, community leaders, and passionate individuals to address major issues facing the Great Lakes, including the pressing issue of water justice. The event focused on solutions, driven by people committed to ensuring that clean water and proper sanitation are accessible to everyone—especially those living in underserved communities. Many members of the Alliance for the Great Lakes team attended the conference, led panels, and participated in planning. Over the two days, one message was clear: this is a fight for fairness, and the people on the ground are leading the charge. 

Spotlight on Chicago’s Fight for Water Justice 

Meleah Geertsma, Director of Clean Water and Equity at the Alliance for the Great Lakes, facilitated a thoughtful discussion on how community advocates in Chicago have been battling against unfair land use and zoning policies that have harmed neighborhoods for decades. These advocates are using a civil rights legal framework to fight for water justice, focusing especially on issues like flooding and inadequate sanitation systems. They’re not doing it alone—there’s a collaborative effort with city government to make lasting changes. 

Meleah began by asking the audience key questions, like how familiar they were with environmental justice cases such as Sackett, a recent environmental law case that weakened the Clean Water Act, and Zanesville, which relied on civil rights law to address denial of water service for a community in Ohio. The responses varied, revealing that while some cases are well-known, especially environmental law decisions, there’s still a need for greater awareness and education about how civil rights law can be an effective tool in the fight for environmental justice. 

Left to Right: Gaby Wagener-Sobrero, Rob Weinstock, Olga Bautista and Meleah Geertsma

Insights from the Panel 

The panel brought together three leaders who have been on the frontlines of the fight for water justice: 

  • Olga Bautista, Executive Director of the Southeast Environmental Task Force, shared how years of hard work resulted in a groundbreaking agreement between the City of Chicago and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She emphasized that viewing water justice through a civil rights lens has been essential in getting local government to take long-overdue action. 
  • Rob Weinstock, Director of the Environmental Advocacy Center at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, highlighted the importance of legal support for communities. He explained that his team’s mission is to equip these communities with the legal tools they need to keep pushing for the changes they deserve. 
  • Gaby Wagener-Sobrero, Environmental Justice Manager for the Chicago Department of Environment, spoke about the shift happening within the city government. She explained that they are now prioritizing communities that have been neglected for too long, working closely with local advocates to address water justice concerns. 

More than 40 people attended the panel. The presence of a representative from the City of Chicago, working alongside community and legal experts demonstrated the growing collaboration between the government and the people who are most affected by these issues. 

Celebrating Success and Looking Forward 

Angela Larson

Angela Larsen, Director of Planning and a member of the conference host committee, played a key role in shaping several discussions throughout the event. Her focus was on celebrating the successes of community-driven efforts and ensuring that future strategies are built around the voices of those most impacted by water issues. Angela made it clear: if we want real change, community vision must be at the heart of every decision. 

Tom Zimnicki

Tom Zimnicki, the Alliance’s Agriculture & Restoration Policy Director presented on his team’s work monitoring water quality and implementing conservation practices in the Lake Erie watershed. The goal of the project is to reduce harmful algal blooms that make the lake’s water toxic to fish, wildlife, pets, and people. They’re deploying sensors in key watersheds in the Western Basin of Lake Erie to track nutrient runoff, primarily from agricultural land uses, which enters streams and tributaries to Lake Erie and fuels the algal blooms.  

Hands-On Learning at Oak Street Beach 

Beyond the panels, attendees were able to take part in hands-on learning during a field trip to Oak Street Beach. Hosted by the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Shedd Aquarium, and Save the Dunes, the field trip involved a beach cleanup as part of the “Great Lakes Litter Data” initiative. More than 26 participants joined in, removing over 2,000 pieces of litter—including plastic, foam, and cigarette butts. It was not only a chance to help clean the lakefront but also an opportunity to learn more about plastic pollution and the impact of community science. 

The Power of Community Advocacy 

From insightful panel discussions to hands-on activities, the HOW Conference was a demonstration of the power of community advocacy. It showed how real change happens when communities, legal experts, and government officials come together with a shared vision. This conference may be over, but the fight for water justice is far from finished as we work to ensure equitable access to clean water across the Great Lakes. 

The post Healing Our Waters Conference Recap: Community Voices Leading the Charge for Water Justice  appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/10/healing-our-water-conference-recap-community-voices-leading-the-charge-for-water-justice/

Michelle Farley

On:
In: Lead service lines

Chicago, IL (October 8, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule today requiring that water utilities across the country replace harmful lead pipes. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) address the widespread use of dangerous lead pipes for American drinking water and take decisive action by requiring replacement of lead service lines, after past rules left too much harmful lead in place. The Great Lakes region contains by far the greatest number of lead service lines of any region in the country, so has borne an especially heavy burden from this toxic legacy that still endures. The region thus stands to enjoy billions of dollars in health and economic benefits from removal of lead service lines.

The final rule, announced by President Joe Biden today in Wisconsin, will require drinking water systems nationwide to replace lead service lines within 10 years, with limited exceptions for water systems with the most lead lines, such as Cleveland and Chicago. Under one alternative that the EPA proposed, Chicago would have gotten as long as 50 years to replace its lead service lines. The final rule announced today substantially shortens the exceptions for systems like Chicago and Cleveland, responding to the call from the Alliance for the Great Lakes and other advocates that the rule must not leave vulnerable residents behind for decades more. The rule also requires more rigorous testing of drinking water and strengthens the threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water.

While the announcement also highlights that EPA is investing an additional $2.6 billion for drinking water upgrades and lead pipe replacements, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, billions more in federal funding will be needed to get the job done.

“Addressing lead service lines once and for all will bring huge benefits to the region by reducing negative impacts to childhood development and improving cardiac health, while creating thousands of jobs to get the lead out. President Biden and the EPA should be commended for this final rule,” said Meleah Geertsma, Director of Clean Water and Equity at the Alliance for the Great Lakes. “Now it’s up to Congress to provide the necessary funding to remove lead pipes once and for all, and water systems and states to ensure that community members most vulnerable to lead in drinking water are first in line to get their lead pipes replaced.”  

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Contact: Don Carr, Media Director, Alliance for the Great Lakes dcarr@greatlakes.org

More About Drinking Water

Clean water is a basic human need. But not everyone in the Great Lakes region has access to safe, affordable water in their home.

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The post EPA Finalizes Clean Drinking Water Rule That Will Get the Lead Out of Great Lakes Drinking Water appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/10/epa-finalizes-clean-drinking-water-rule-that-will-get-the-lead-out-of-great-lakes-drinking-water/

Judy Freed

On:
In: Lead service lines

Today, clean water advocates spoke out in support of Ohio’s Lead Line Replacement Act (HB 534), a bill designed to get the lead out of Ohio’s drinking water systems by eliminating lead water service lines within 15 years. The bill, introduced by Ohio State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells, includes key provisions that support workforce development and ensure low- and moderate-income customers will not be burdened by the cost of replacement.

Lead exposure from consuming contaminated water can cause irreversible brain damage in children that may take years to emerge. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has determined there is no safe level of lead in children. Ohio currently ranks third in the nation for the most lead pipes serving families.

Meleah Geertsma, Director of Clean Water & Equity at the Alliance for the Great Lakes, spoke in support of the bill at today’s press conference in Columbus, Ohio. Her remarks are below.

A video screen grab shows Meleah Geertsma speaking at a press conference.
Meleah Geertsma, Director of Clean Water & Equity, speaks at a press conference about Ohio’s Lead Line Replacement Act.

My name is Meleah Geertsma, and I am the Director of Clean Water and Equity at the Alliance for the Great Lakes. The Alliance is a regional organization committed to protecting the health of the Great Lakes and the people and communities that depend on them.

I’m honored to be here today to support Representative Jarrells on this critical infrastructure and public health measure.

My son was born 10 years ago – just a few months after Flint, Michigan, switched its source water and triggered a crisis that would drive a national reckoning with lead in our drinking water.

At the time, I was working at a national organization and I focused largely on air pollution. I also worked with people directly involved in Flint and started doing water work myself.

From that vantage, I saw the harm being done to Flint and other communities like it. I also dug deep into the science and data behind lead in drinking water, learning how we’d failed as a country to adequately test for and control lead.

From my public health training, I already knew that there is no “safe” level of lead exposure. The arrival of my son, however, elevated the issue from a place of professional concern to personal and parental anxiety.

I learned that lead levels in drinking water can vary hugely from minute to minute and day to day and house to house even within the same water system. So having a “passing” test on one day from a few houses in the system is no guarantee that the system’s water is safe for all consumers.

And I learned that on the whole, Great Lakes water systems hover just below the older, inadequate federal action level – meaning that they have significant amounts of harmful lead in their water.

In sum, I confirmed that the only way to truly protect people from lead is to remove it completely from the system.

At the time, I took some comfort because I also learned that it was unlikely our large condo building where my son spent his first critical three years had a lead service line – because the metal is too soft for larger lines serving larger buildings.

So I was able to make his formula without fearing that I was inadvertently harming him by mixing the powder with our home’s water.

My son turned three in 2017 – while I was working on a bill in Illinois that would require replacement of all lead service lines, like the bill we’re here to support today.

That summer, we bought our first house in an inner suburb of Chicago. It was 100 years old and had been owned by the same family for 60 years – with minimal updates. And it had a lead service line.

From the day we moved in, I worried that our drinking water would hurt our son. We replaced all the faucets and added an under-sink filter to the kitchen, and made sure to get our son tested for lead regularly and monitored his development. And every time he threw a tantrum or fell behind in school, I worried it was the water – and our fault.

We’re lucky and privileged – we live in a community with a relatively well-funded and capable water department. We knew to take protective measures and to closely monitor our son, and we had financial resources and specialists available. Today, our son is okay, with no visible impacts of lead.

But not everyone has the resources or the information that we did – nor should people have to rely solely on their own resources to protect themselves and their families against a public health emergency that arises from water infrastructure, or worry that their child will be poisoned when visiting a friend’s or family member’s home.

While I know from personal experience the guilt and helplessness a parent can feel when struggling to protect their child, I also know that access to clean water is a fundamental right that can only be secured if we demand change and work together to solve the problem.

Flint happened 10 years ago – that’s a full decade. The time to get the lead out is long past. As my son would say “Let’s Go!”

Getting the Lead Out

Learn more about efforts to replace lead pipes and improve water infrastructure across the Great Lakes.

Learn More

The post Supporting Legislation to Remove Lead Water Pipes in Ohio appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/09/supporting-legislation-to-remove-lead-water-pipes-in-ohio/

Judy Freed

On:
In: Lead service lines

CHICAGO (February 5, 2024) – In November 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed improvements to the nation’s drinking water rules to finally address the widespread use of dangerous lead pipes for American drinking water. The Great Lakes region contains by far the greatest number of lead service lines of any region in the country, and so has borne an especially heavy burden from this toxic legacy that still endures.  

Today, the Alliance for the Great Lakes submitted comments to EPA aimed at improving the rule and raising concerns with the agency over the rule’s scope and timetable for action. The most important issue for EPA to address is a proposed exception that could allow lead pipes to persist in Great Lakes metropolitan areas like Chicago for over 40 years.  

The Alliance’s comments include:  

  • U.S. EPA should require that systems with the greatest number of lead service lines meet ambitious minimum replacement rates set as a percentage of their total lead service lines, with such rates revisited to ensure maximum feasible replacement over time. 
  • U.S. EPA should further tighten the Action Level to 5 ppb to protect public health, ensure systems are using effective corrosion control treatment, and further promote outreach and education that can help spur lead service line replacement and other removal of lead from water systems.  
  • The Alliance supports U.S. EPA’s proposed enhanced transparency measures and requests that U.S. EPA (a) include requirements that posted information be easily searchable, extractable and exportable, and (b) remove the 50,000-resident threshold for online provision of lead service line replacement plans.  
  • The Alliance supports and suggests ways to bolster U.S. EPA’s emphasis in the Proposed Rule on environmental justice and civil rights obligations pertaining to lead service line replacement and overall Lead and Copper Rule compliance. 

“The Alliance welcomes these long-awaited improvements to the federal Lead and Copper Rule and encourages U.S. EPA to issue a strengthened final rule that delivers on the Administration’s promise to the country and the Great Lakes region. Addressing lead service lines once and for all will bring huge benefits to the region by reducing negative impacts to childhood development and improving cardiac health. President Biden and the EPA should be commended for moving forward with this rule,” said Meleah Geertsma, Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Director of Clean Water and Equity.  

“At the same time, the Alliance believes the Proposed Rule risks leaving the most burdened too far behind by allowing significant extensions of the timeframe for lead service line replacement in cities with the greatest number of lead service lines, including the Great Lakes cities of Chicago and Cleveland,” said Geertsma.  

### 

Contact: Don Carr, Media Director, dcarr@greatlakes.org 

More about Lead Service Lines

Read more about lead service lines in Great Lakes Communities.

Learn More

The post EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Can Demonstrate Biden Administration’s Commitment to Protecting Human Health  appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/02/epas-lead-and-copper-rule-improvements-can-demonstrate-biden-administrations-commitment-to-protecting-human-health/

Judy Freed

On:
In: Drinking Water, Drinking water affordability, Lead service lines

For our Diving Deep for Solutions series, we commissioned author and journalist Kari Lydersen to examine big issues facing the lakes today and how our expert team at the Alliance for the Great Lakes is growing to meet the moment.

Residents of our Great Lakes states are surrounded by freshwater, yet for many, access to clean, safe, and affordable water is impacted by historic disinvestment or lack of local resources to improve infrastructure, notes Jenna Voss, Alliance for the Great Lakes Program Manager for Clean Water & Equity.

Indeed, many people across the Great Lakes region can’t depend on this spectacular water resource because failing or antiquated pipes and pumps contaminate water on their way to taps and flood basements and discharge sewage into rivers and lakes during heavy rains. These challenges will only get worse with climate change, as heavier rains overwhelm water systems and hotter temperatures increase the risk of toxins and pathogens contaminating drinking water.

Water infrastructure.

Lead that contaminates drinking water from pipes poses a serious health risk in many communities, and drinking water can also be contaminated with “emerging contaminants” – toxic chemicals that are not widely regulated or monitored. These include chemicals from pharmaceuticals and pesticides that contaminate water through run-off or wastewater, and PFAS – thousands of “forever chemicals” from industrial processes and products.

Even as drinking water may be unsafe, it is also unaffordable for many, forcing them to choose between paying water bills and other costs.

The Alliance is proud to collaborate with coalition partners to lead the push for vastly increased investment and equity in water infrastructure and affordability. The $50 billion in federal dollars available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 offers hope for real change, but ongoing policy reform and community engagement is needed to make sure water infrastructure investments are made in effective and equitable ways, including addressing high water bills.

“Protecting and enhancing the Great Lakes ecosystem – including human health and access to safe, affordable water – should be a priority. Public health is central to creating a vibrant and thriving Great Lakes community,” said Voss. “Long-term water affordability needs to be prioritized in state and federal policy and requires dedicated investment, much like our investments in supporting watershed health.”

New investment, new opportunities

Hand holding glass under kitchen faucet

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes important revisions to and added funding for State Revolving Funds (SRFs) for clean water and drinking water. These programs offer low-interest loans and grants. The law allocates new supplementary funding of $11.7 billion each over five years to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, plus $5 billion for addressing emerging contaminants and $15 billion for lead service line replacement. The new funding comes on top of existing annual base funding appropriated by Congress.

The federal SRF programs are designed to support projects that help communities meet the requirements and goals of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, respectively. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) has long been a way to address combined sewer overflows when rainwater overwhelms wastewater systems and forces the release of untreated sewage into rivers and lakes. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) addresses the risk from lead pipes and other water distribution challenges.

Voss noted that just last year, the EPA, for the first time, examined lead service lines in its Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment.

“The inclusion of lead service lines in the survey was really important,” said Voss. “Hopefully, having more data to tell us where SRF funding is most needed will enhance states’ abilities to make a dent in the crisis.”

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, almost half the payments for lead service line replacement in disadvantaged communities must be forgivable loans – essentially grants – and almost half the total drinking water funds must be spent on disadvantaged communities.

The law also says a quarter of loans allocated to fight emerging contaminants like PFAS through drinking water infrastructure will be forgivable. Finally, the law reduced the

amount states had to pay to match the federal loans through 2023 – from 20% to 10% — taking some burden off states in the initial years of BIL funding.

Loans and grants for clean water infrastructure are available to municipalities, non-profits, and private entities, like homeowners’ associations and watershed groups. Almost half of the loans are also forgivable if municipalities meet affordability criteria or advance energy efficiency and sustainability targets.

Voss noted that while the dollars are primarily federal, states have broad authority in deciding how they are spent. Each state is required to submit an Intended Use Plan (IUP) to the federal government outlining how the state plans to spend the federal funds for water and infrastructure during that fiscal year, and the public has the chance to comment on these plans. Ultimately, these plans have a massive influence on clean water outcomes in the Great Lakes.

To equip NGOs and community organizations with the tools and understanding to navigate these layers of water infrastructure policy and to help guide states through this process with a focus on equity and climate resilience, the Alliance launched the SRF State Advocates Forum in 2021, in partnership with the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, PolicyLink, and River Network. The forum has helped more than 50 organizations engage with state SRF administrators and submit comment letters on state Intended Use Plans.

“The SRF program could be quite powerful in addressing lead service lines and water affordability problems because it has longevity,” said Voss. “Multi-year funding is needed to make sure there is long-term investment in communities, not just upfront capital where the community is later left with the bill.”

Building Healthy Communities with Systemic Change

Detroit has been a poster city for the water infrastructure crisis, with environmental justice implications, as Black residents are disproportionately affected by lack of access to quality drinking water and by basement flooding, even while faced with unaffordable water bills and denial of flooding compensation claims.

As in neighboring Flint and other cities around the country, many metro Detroit residents deal with drinking water that can be dangerously contaminated with lead and other toxins, even as it is unaffordable for some families.

Monica Lewis-Patrick, President and CEO of the community organization We the People of Detroit, emphasized that the city of Detroit not only needs to overhaul its water infrastructure but needs to do it in a way that prioritizes existing residents without contributing to inequality and displacement.

“In my mind there’s two things,” she said. “One is making sure the infrastructure is being invested in so it’s going to be to the benefit of the residents who are in the city now,” not only aimed at attracting new and wealthier residents.

Second, the jobs and economic stimulus created by the overhaul need to benefit residents who have suffered for too long from inadequate investment. In support of building long-term climate resilience, Mayor Duggan’s administration released the Detroit Climate Strategy in November 2023.

Healthy Water, Healthy People

The particular emphasis on clean water during the pandemic spotlighted the epidemic of water shutoffs in Detroit and other low-income communities across the Great Lakes. In Detroit, shut-offs were linked to higher rates of COVID-19 and disproportionately affected elderly and Black people.

Lewis-Patrick decried the “racialized narrative” that “Black people just woke up one day and didn’t pay their bills,” citing water rates that have more than doubled in recent decades, far outpacing wage growth, with inadequate supports for those living on fixed incomes.

Lewis-Patrick pointed to a study by Dr. Nadia Gaber featuring Detroit and showing the psychosocial impacts of not having secure access to clean water.

“Even outside of the highly concentrated Black and brown communities of the urban core, poor white folks are affected too,” she said. “Every human being deserves clean, affordable water.”

In the work of protecting and restoring the Great Lakes, it’s critical that no one is left behind. For many in the region, water flowing from the tap and running through our water systems is the primary way people connect to the Great Lakes.

“A healthy Great Lakes region is one where every person can wake up knowing our shared water will be there for them and their family,” said Joel Brammeier, Alliance president & CEO. “Water connects us all. That’s why we’re working to make sure everyone who lives here can rely on the lakes every day.”

The post Water Infrastructure: Getting Great Lakes Water to the People appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2024/01/water-infrastructure-getting-great-lakes-water-to-the-people/

Michelle Farley

On:
In: Climate change in the Great Lakes, Drinking Water, Drinking water affordability, Environmental Justice, Lead service lines, Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes

Note: This blog was written by Vice President of Policy and Strategic Engagement Crystal M.C. Davis.

Attending the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai was an incredible experience, one that I was fortunate to be a part of thanks to the Black Environmental Leaders Association (BEL). As a founding member and board member, it was amazing to see how the organization’s support brought our mission to a global stage, showing just how far our collective efforts in environmental advocacy can reach.

Celebrating the Role of Black Environmental Leaders

Our delegation’s presence at COP28 was a testament to the organization’s commitment to environmental advocacy and its impact on a global scale. I was privileged to represent not only the Alliance for the Great Lakes but also the voices and perspectives that BEL leaders bring to the forefront of environmental justice.

Global and Local Interplay: Understanding Our Collective Impact

At COP28, the interconnectedness of local and global environmental efforts became increasingly clear. The insights I gained there have deepened my understanding of how our regional work across states and cities aligns with national and global environmental initiatives. It’s evident now more than ever that our individual efforts have profound global implications. This revelation was a recurring theme throughout the conference, emphasizing the significant impact of water stewardship and innovation on a global scale. COP28 was not just about global dialogues; it was about finding local relevance in these discussions. The insights gained from the conference will be instrumental in shaping our approach to water and climate issues in the Great Lakes region. The shared knowledge and strategies from the global stage will help us develop more effective local solutions.

Water Stewardship: An Economic Imperative

The conference illuminated an essential truth: water stewardship and innovation are not only environmental responsibilities but also make sound economic sense. This alignment of environmental, racial, health, and economic justice was a key focus, with several sessions exploring the financial aspects of climate action. The discussions at COP28 reinforced the notion that environmental conservation is intrinsically linked to broader economic strategies.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes: Bridging Justice and Environmental Action

At the Alliance for the Great Lakes, we’ve recognized the intertwined nature of environmental, racial, health, and economic justice. COP28 served to reaffirm this understanding, highlighting how environmental initiatives, especially those focused on water, are crucial in building a just and sustainable economic future. Our commitment to these principles was echoed in the global discourse at the conference, reinforcing the value and urgency of our work.

Forward with Renewed Vision

Reflecting on the experiences and lessons from COP28, I am filled with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity. As we move forward, the Alliance for the Great Lakes is more equipped than ever to play a pivotal role in fostering environmental justice and economic sustainability, both regionally and globally.

Together, we are making strides toward a future where environmental stewardship and economic progress go hand in hand.

The post Reflections from COP28: A Journey of Global Impact and Local Stewardship appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2023/12/reflections-from-cop28-a-journey-of-global-impact-and-local-stewardship/

Michelle Farley

On:
In: Lead service lines

On December 6, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) took an important step in protecting public health by proposing to significantly strengthen national drinking water regulations for toxic lead and copper. Most notably, U.S. EPA is proposing a requirement to remove lead service lines within 10 years for most water systems.

Lead is a heavy metal and neurotoxin that harms the brain and nervous system, leading to slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech problems in children. Lead is also linked to negative health impacts in adults, such as reproductive problems, increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular effects, and harm to the kidneys. Experts widely agree that there is no safe level of lead exposure.

For decades, lead was used in service lines, fixtures and solder throughout water systems; it was not until 1986 that Congress banned the use of new lead pipes and fixtures. Following the Flint tragedy that helped propel the issue of lead in drinking water as a national priority, advocates including the Alliance for the Great Lakes have been calling on local, state and federal officials to get the lead out of water systems. A major focus has been to mandate the removal of lead service lines that are often the largest contributors to lead levels in home drinking water.

U.S. EPA is now proposing a national mandate that water systems remove their lead service lines, with a default timeline for removal of 10 years. However, that mandate is substantially weakened by a proposed exception to the time frame for cities with the most lead service lines – including a number of cities in the Great Lakes region. Under the proposed rule, these cities could get decades more to remove lead service lines, including over 40 years for Chicago. It’s unacceptable that EPA would allow this pollution to persist for so long in some of the most impacted communities in our region.

In addition to calling for removal of lead service lines, advocates have called on U.S. EPA to strengthen requirements around water sampling for lead and copper, including the levels that trigger a response by a water system (known as the “action levels”) and what actions water systems must take when sampling exceeds the action levels. Advocates also have demanded enhanced public notice and engagement, to ensure that communities have a real say in how their water utilities respond to high levels of lead and copper. Along with mandating removal of lead service lines, U.S. EPA’s proposed rule strengthens the sampling requirements and action levels while enhancing public notice and participation requirements. The Alliance will be seeking additional improvements in these areas in our comments to U.S. EPA. 

To help address lead in drinking water, Congress has increased the amount of federal money that is available for lead service line removal. For example, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) included $15 billion nationally for lead service line removal. EPA has been distributing this increased funding for lead service line removal to states for the last two years through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, with three more years of funding distributions left. That said, the need for additional action on funding for lead service line removal is significant – based on current lead line inventories, estimates for full removal range from $45-60 billion nationally.

U.S. EPA is accepting comments on the proposal through February 5, 2024, and is holding a virtual public hearing on the proposal on January 16, 2024 (to register, click here). The Alliance and our coalition partners will submit comments supporting, and requests for strengthening, the proposed rule. We hope U.S. EPA will move expeditiously to consider comments and adopt the strongest final rule possible, and we look forward to working closely with communities and water systems to ensure robust and speedy compliance.

More about Drinking Water

Read more about protecting drinking water in Great Lakes communities.

Learn More

The post Proposed EPA rule would strengthen protections against lead in drinking water, but timetable leaves too many Great Lakes residents in danger  appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

News - Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2023/12/proposed-epa-rule/

Judy Freed