South Dakota receives federal grant to remove lead in school drinking water
(UI) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $426,000 in grant funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to remove lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities across South Dakota.
Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), activities aimed at removing lead sources in drinking water are now eligible for funding through the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN) for the first time.
This grant funding, provided to states, territories, and Tribes, advances the Biden-Harris Administration's Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and demonstrates a commitment to delivering clean water to all communities, particularly historically marginalized and low-income communities.
As a part of the $58 million in appropriations for this program, EPA also released a revised grant implementation document that contains detailed information on how EPA will award and administer grants that support eligible actions, such as those for remediation or replacement activities.
The Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program funds voluntary lead testing, compliance monitoring, and for the first-time, lead in drinking water remediation projects. Lead remediation actions may include but are not limited to the removal, installation, and replacement of internal plumbing, lead pipes or lead connectors, faucets, water fountains, water filler stations, point-of-use devices, and other lead-free apparatus related to drinking water.
Following this announcement, the EPA intends to propose requirements that, along with other actions, would result in the replacement of all lead service lines as quickly as is feasible. EPA is also investing $15 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to remove lead service lines. In addition to the dedicated funding for lead service line removal, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides another $11.7 billion in general funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund that can also be utilized for lead removal projects.
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