EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
11/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/01/2024 12:53
EPA Head of Water Office Visits Pennsylvania to Tout $10 million in Funding to Replace Lead Pipes and Upgrade Water Infrastructure
EPA Head of Water Office Visits Pennsylvania to Tout $10 million in Funding to Replace Lead Pipes and Upgrade Water Infrastructure
November 1, 2024
Contact Information
EPA Press Office ([email protected])
WASHINGTON -The head of U.S.EPA's Office of Water, Bruno Pigott, joined Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-PA) in Pittsburgh and Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to meet with community leaders and highlight federally supported water infrastructure improvement projects under the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America Agenda, such as lead pipe replacements and wastewater treatment upgrades that are ensuring clean, safe water for communities.
"EPA is working with states and local partners to achieve our shared goal that all people have access to clean and safe water," Pigott said, who also met with local and regional water officials in Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, and California in the past two weeks to view the progress of water projects there. "The Biden-Harris Administration has made the single largest water infrastructure investment in our nation's history, and I saw it in action in Pennsylvania, where this funding is creating local jobs to remove lead pipes in Pittsburgh and upgrade wastewater treatment operations in nearby Findlay Township."
These engagements come on heels of an additional nationwide funding announcement of $3.6 billion dollars for water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Pigott attended a lead service line replacement by Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) boosted by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. The science is clear that there is no safe level of exposure to lead and PWSA has become a national leader in removing lead pipes that deliver drinking water to homes, having identified and replaced lead pipes for years. Also boosted by federal and state funding,PWSA has replaced more than 11,800 lead pipes across the city to date, positioning Pittsburgh to meet the goal of 100% lead service line replacement within 10 years.Congresswoman Summer Lee emphasized the importance of these initiatives for Pittsburgh's families, particularly in historically underserved neighborhoods. "The reality is, today isn't just about pipes or infrastructure-it's about protecting our kids, creating jobs, and showing what happens when we roll up our sleeves to get lead out of our water," said Rep. Lee. "Thanks to the Biden administration's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're seeing action. The federal government is backing us with the resources we need to speed things up. And Pittsburgh is stepping up as a model, proving that when we invest in communities, we get real, lasting results."
Video here on health effects of lead poisoning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3f7WeahCBs.
In Findlay Township, Pennsylvania, the wastewater treatment infrastructure and operations have needed upgrades to improve efficiency and protect local waterbodies.EPA was able to help fund this critical infrastructure project for the community. EPA was able to help fund this critical wastewater infrastructure project for the community with $5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law."Folks don't often think about the water systems we depend on day in and day out, but our water systems are a piece of the critical infrastructure puzzle that keeps our communities running safely and smoothly," said Representative Deluzio. "I'm so proud to join EPA and Findlay Township leadership to celebrate the Infrastructure Law's $5 million investment into wastewater operations to help strengthen our region's critical infrastructure for generations to come."
State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. SRF programs are critically important programs for investing in the nation's water infrastructure. They are designed to generate significant and sustainable water quality and public health benefits across the country. Their impact is amplified by the growth inherent in a revolving loan structure, in which payments of principal and interest on loans become available to address future needs.