Biden administration targets lead pipe replacement

President Joe Biden took a significant step this week toward ensuring access to clean drinking water for all Americans, announcing a new EPA rule that mandates the replacement of lead service lines across the nation within ten years. Biden declared that his administration remains committed to “sprinting to the finish” in addressing environmental justice issues and securing clean water for historically marginalized communities.Since day one, the president said his administration has prioritized the removal of lead pipes, with he and Vice President Kamala Harris committing to replace all lead pipes within a decade. The effort, part of the administration’s& Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, doubles down on their focus on protecting public health, particularly in underserved areas. “No level of lead exposure is safe,” Biden emphasized, noting the devastating impacts of lead poisoning, especially on children and expectant mothers.The NAACP recently released a& report& highlighting how unsafe drinking water affects Black communities disproportionately, using problems in Jackson, MS, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other cities as examples. “Access to clean water is a fundamental human right,” the report stated, calling for immediate action from state legislators to enforce policies prioritizing clean water access in low-income and minority communities.The report stressed that...