(RestoreAmericanGlory.com) – On Thursday, President Biden declared that his administration will allocate $3 billion to the removal of lead pipes, known to be hazardous to health. This announcement was made during his visit to Wilmington, N.C., where he also marked the commencement of the first lead pipe replacement project funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in the city. North Carolina will receive $76 million from the total $3 billion distributed.
The $3 billion funding is part of a broader $15 billion effort from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aimed at addressing the issue of lead pipes. It is estimated that the current funding will facilitate the replacement of approximately 1.7 million lead pipes across the country, according to the White House. The United States is estimated to have around 9.2 million lead service lines in total.
Despite the significant investment, environmental groups have voiced concerns that the funds will not suffice to completely solve the problem of lead in drinking water. No amount of lead is considered safe in water as it can severely affect the neurological development and brain function of children. The most notorious case of lead contamination was in Flint, Michigan, but many other communities have faced similar challenges.
The Biden administration has suggested a plan to replace most of the country’s lead pipes within a decade. However, there are worries that some cities, like Chicago, might keep their lead pipes much longer, potentially even for decades, despite this plan.
In conjunction with the initiatives to replace lead pipes, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will announce a separate funding of nearly $90 million on Thursday. This fund is aimed at mitigating various health risks in public housing, including hazards from lead-based paint, carbon monoxide, mold, radon, and asbestos.
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