Biden announces new rule to remove all US lead pipes in a decade
By Daphne Psaledakis and Jarrett Renshaw, Reuters
October 10, 2024
The Biden administration finalized a landmark rule on Tuesday that would require water utilities to replace virtually every lead pipe in the country within 10 years, tackling a major threat that is particularly dangerous to infants and children.
The White House has made removing every lead pipe within 10 years in the United States a centerpiece of its plan to address racial disparities and environmental issues in the wake of water contamination crises in recent years from Newark, New Jersey to Flint, Michigan.
In a Milwaukee speech to highlight the new rule, President Joe Biden said public officials have long understood the dangers lead pipes pose to the public, but it never had been given the national priority it deserved.