Tuesday, October 15, 2024

EPA, PennVEST, Aqua Pennsylvania Highlight Importance Of Taking Action Against Lead Water Service Line At Chester County Event

On October 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joined leaders from
Aqua Pennsylvania, and federal, state, and local officials to discuss the importance of taking action against lead, specifically with regards to identifying and removing lead and galvanized service lines, protecting public health, and the federal investments expediting these efforts.

Officials gathered today in West Chester, Pennsylvania to celebrate over $4 million being invested by Aqua throughout parts of Chester County. 

The loan, administered by PA Infrastructure Investment Authority, is from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund which has received substantial funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As part of the celebration, officials were able to see first-hand the removal and replacement of a residential lead service line.

“The Biden-Harris Administration believes that any risk from lead in drinking water is unacceptable, which is why we are taking a whole-of-government approach to get the lead out of our communities,” said Adam Ortiz, EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. “With each dollar invested, each home surveyed, and each pipe replaced, we’re one step closer to removing all lead pipes within the next ten years."

”We’re proud to be at the forefront of this game-changing project for our customers and we remain committed to using our expertise to get the Lead out across Pennsylvania,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “This important work proves we’re always ready and willing to take the extra step to protect our customers. I’d like to thank PENNVEST for its partnership on this project and so many others.“

Despite their installation being banned nearly 40 years ago, there are still an estimated 9.2 million legacy lead service lines delivering water in cities and towns across the country, many of which are in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. 

The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering $15 billion across the country to remove these lead pipes, in line with President Biden’s goal of removing 100% of lead service lines.

"Over the past four years, PennVEST has funded 71 projects that will, when complete, remove nearly 29,000 lead lines and lead components from water systems throughout the Commonwealth," said Rebecca Hayden, PennVEST Project Manager for the Eastern Pennsylvania. "With significant federal funding - $268 million - and active public and private partners ready to do the work, PennVEST is honored to play a role in keeping our communities and environment safe."

Earlier this month, the EPA issued Lead and Copper Rule Improvements which establishes achievable, common-sense practices to identify and replace lead pipes within ten years. 

The public health and economic benefits of the final rule are estimated to be up to 13 times greater than the costs, and together with new funding, water systems will be able to accelerate removal of lead pipes and create good-paying local jobs in the process. 

“Watching the removal of lead pipes in front of a West Chester resident’s home today was so gratifying, and I commend the EPA team that made this project happen,” said Member of Congress Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). “We got to see the federal government in action through the funding of these pipe replacements, the Commonwealth in action through the designation of funds, and AQUA and its partners in action removing lead pipes and replacing them with copper pipes delivering safe and clean water.”

In addition to significant investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA also has several programs and initiatives to further progress to identify, remove, and replace lead service lines such as the Lead Service Line Replacement Accelerators and Get The Lead Out programs both of which the Department of Environmental Protection is a partner.

Visit the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority website to learn more about water infrastructure funding opportunities.

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- PennVEST Makes $216.3 Million Investment In 33 Drinking Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction Projects In 21 Counties  [PaEN] 

-- The Derrick: PUC Considering Emergency Order To Have Aqua Pennsylvania Take Over 6 Rhodes Estate Water Companies [Fallout Continues From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill 15 Months Ago In Venango County]  [PaEN] 

-- EPA, PennVEST, Aqua Pennsylvania Highlight Importance Of Taking Action Against Lead Water Service Line At Chester County Event  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Awards $3.4 Million To Support 12 Local Projects To Improve Water Quality, Fish & Wildlife Habitat In 8 Counties  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR, Fish & Boat Commission, Partners Plant Stream Buffer In Snyder County To Combat Flooding, Improve Water Quality  [PaEN] 

-- Conservation Innovation Fund Announces 2nd Round Of Farm Enrollment For Climate-Smart Commodities Market Program  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Center For Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training: Dec. 12 Webinar On Project Management For Agricultural Conservation  [PaEN]

-- Wildlands Conservancy & Partners Celebrate Success Of Bushkill Creek Stream Restoration In Northampton County  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: New Plans In The Works For Cleaner Streams In Centre, Lancaster Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Master Watershed Steward Sue Nielsen Emphasizes Conservation In Her Volunteer Work In Warren County  [PaEN] 

-- Assn. Of State Drinking Water Administrators Recognizes DEP’s Lisa Daniels With 2024 ASDWA Excellence In Service Award 

-- Reclaimed Abandoned Coal Mine Land In Clinton County Dedicated In Memory Of Joe Schueck, DEP Hydrologist With PA's Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program  [PaEN] 

-- Dept. Of Agriculture Invests $2.2 Million In Research On Climate Resilient Farming; Pollinator Protection; Sustainable Weed Management; More

NewsClips:

-- Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance 2025 Mine Pools As Beneficial Resources Conference Agenda Now Available

-- WHYY: Philadelphia Releases Lead Pipe Inventory; Much Of City Left Undetermined

-- LancasterOnline - Ad Crable: Kettle Run In Brickerville May Be In Danger Of Reclassification From DEP  [PDF of Article]

-- Lancaster Farming: Proposed Wet PennsBoro Warehouse Project Remains Under Review In Cumberland County

-- Reading Eagle: 3,000 Free Native Trees Shrubs Distributed In Southern Berks County Event

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Guardian Newsletter: Stream Assessments; Pay-For-Success Grants; Fee Changes; Water Saving Win-Win 

-- Centre County-based ClearWater Conservancy Annual Meeting & Celebration Oct. 17 

-- Post-Gazette - Mary Ann Thomas: ‘Groundbreaking’ Stocking Brings Freshwater Mussels To Kiski, Clarion Rivers

-- Lafayette College: Reintroducing Water-Cleansing Mussels To Bushkill Creek

[Posted: October 15, 2024] 
PA Environment Digest

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