Kewanee, Ill., partners with EPA to accelerate lead water line identification, replacement
(UI) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a collaboration with the city of Kewanee, Illinois, to help identify drinking water lead pipes, accelerate replacement and protect public health.
The city of Kewanee is participating in EPA’s Get the Lead Out Initiative, a program funded entirely by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help move the nation towards achieving 100% lead service line replacement. The Get the Lead Out initiative will provide technical assistance to approximately 200 communities nationwide.
Many underserved communities lack the resources to plan for lead pipe replacement and access federal investments. The technical assistance provided through the Get the Lead Out initiative will help ensure that no community is left behind in the opportunity to replace lead pipes.
Under the Get the Lead Out initiative, EPA will support the city of Kewanee with some critical first steps to lead pipe replacement including identifying lead pipes and educating the public about lead pipes.
Under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, all public water utilities are required to prepare and maintain an inventory of service line materials by October 16, 2024, or sooner if required by the state agency.
“Every American deserves access to clean, safe and reliable water, but all too often this neglect disproportionately affects historically underserved communities and communities of color,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth. “Making sure all families have access to clean water is important to me, it’s why I pushed to ensure my Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act and historic levels of funding for lead service line replacement were included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
“We appreciate the technical assistance provided by the EPA and its partners under the GLO program,” said City of Kewanee Manager Gary Bradley. “This will enable our people to stay focused on the replacement of lead service lines, improving the safety of our distribution system. Being one of just 200 communities in the program shows how big of a need the community has, and we’re grateful for the help.”
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