Lead pipes

Chicago officials report an average cost of $31,000 to replace lead pipes, significantly higher than many other cities. The article is a collaboration between Inside Climate News, Grist, and WBEZ.

Chicago has the largest inventory of lead water service lines in the U.S., with over 400,000 lines. Replacing each line costs an average of $31,000, more than six times the EPA’s national estimate of $4,700. High costs are attributed to inefficient contracts, permitting delays, and fragmented replacement strategies, with total replacement estimated at over $12 billion under a federal mandate.

New Orleans aims to replace lead pipes in private homes using federal funds, but a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval in November could determine its feasibility. The proposal by Sen. Royce Duplessis seeks to allow the Sewerage and Water Board to use public money for lead pipe removal, addressing a health risk linked to aging infrastructure.

The Trump administration is rebranding Biden-era clean drinking water initiatives as 'Make America Healthy Again,' citing $1 billion for PFAS contamination and $2.9 billion for lead pipe removal. These funds were originally appropriated under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), with portions repurposed or delayed by the Trump administration, including $125 million shifted to wildfire prevention and a 2027 budget proposal cutting EPA funding by half.

California has been awarded $27.5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to identify and replace lead pipes that supply water to homes. This funding initiative aims to address public health concerns related to lead contamination in drinking water infrastructure.