Overview:

- The Biden-Harris administration finalized a rule requiring all lead service lines in U.S. drinking water systems to be replaced within the next decade.
- Detroit will benefit from $90 million in federal funding, enabling the city to accelerate lead pipe replacements from 700 to over 8,000 per year.
- The initiative prioritizes environmental justice by directing nearly half of the funding to disadvantaged communities, addressing disproportionate lead exposure in places like Flint and Detroit.

The Biden-Harris administration has finalized a new rule requiring the replacement of all lead service lines in drinking water systems nationwide within the next decade. Announced during President Biden’s visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Oct. 8, the policy is set to address long-standing concerns over lead contamination in water supplies, including in Michigan.

Detroit stands to benefit from this federal initiative, as the city has already been working to replace its aging water infrastructure. The federal government has provided $90 million in funding to Detroit for lead pipe replacement, allowing the city to drastically increase its efforts. Detroit has ramped up replacement rates from 700 lead pipes per year to over 8,000 this year, and is now on track to replace all 80,000 lead pipes within the next decade.

The announcement has special significance for Michigan, where the Flint water crisis drew national attention to the dangers of lead in drinking water. While Flint continues to recover from the crisis, Benton Harbor has emerged as a model for rapid action. 

With $18 million in American Rescue Plan funding, Benton Harbor replaced all of its lead pipes in just two years. The city’s success offers hope for other Michigan communities dealing with similar issues.

Biden-Harris’ initiative prioritizes environmental justice

The new rule is part of a broader initiative under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes more than $50 billion for clean water projects nationwide. In addition to lead pipe replacement, the administration is rolling out new protections against toxic PFAS chemicals, or “forever chemicals,” which have contaminated drinking water in many communities, including several in Michigan.

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The administration’s plan prioritizes environmental justice, mandating that nearly half of the funding for water infrastructure improvements be directed toward disadvantaged communities. This focus aims to address the disproportionate burden of lead exposure on low-income areas and communities of color, as seen in both Flint and Detroit.

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Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, equity, health, and environment journalism that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.