$90 million drinking water investment replaces 9,500 lead service lines since 2018 in Detroit, Mich.
(UI) – Since 2022, Detroit, Michigan, has received $90 million in federal funding to help replace lead pipes, including $85 million distributed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy, and a $5 million EPA grant awarded under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act.
Recent federal funding has rapidly accelerated the city’s lead service line replacement program. Since 2018, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has replaced nearly 9,500 lead service lines. Over half of those – nearly 5,000 – have been replaced in 2024.
Detroit’s lead service line replacement program uses a neighborhood-by-neighborhood approach, prioritizing vulnerable areas such as communities with a high density of low-income households, children and seniors, and housing built prior to 1945. Not only does the program have a critical public health benefit, but it also helps create jobs for the local economy.
"Since Governor Whitmer took office, more than $958 million has been invested to remove lead service lines across the state, including over $85 million to support the City of Detroit in their lead remediation efforts” said EGLE Director Phil Roos.
“EPA funding has enabled DWSD to accelerate lead service line replacement to meet our commitment of getting lead pipes out in the next 10 years without any cost to homeowners,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “We appreciate the support from the Biden Harris Administration, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, and Acting Assistant Administrator Bruno Pigott.”
“Getting the lead service lines out of Detroit homes is a public health issue, every one of our divisions is working on the program and we are hiring Detroiters for this work in our neighborhoods,” said DWSD Director Gary Brown. “We’ve always said that we cannot put the cost burden onto our residents and we are committed to cover the full cost of the replacement in the most efficient way. The $90 million received through the EPA and EGLE has made our accelerated pace with new contractors and employee crews possible, without any impact on water rates.”
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