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 EPA Press Office:

EPA Announces Final Rule to Improve Public Awareness of Drinking Water Quality

WASHINGTON — Today, May 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule to make annual drinking water quality reports more understandable and accessible to the public. These reports are an important tool that drinking water systems use to inform residents about water quality and any contaminants that have been found in the water. Starting in 2027, this final rule will ensure that these reports are easier to read and support access to translations in appropriate languages while enhancing information about lead in drinking water. EPA is also taking steps to streamline the delivery of reports by encouraging electronic methods.

“EPA is taking action today to help ensure that the American public has improved access to information about the drinking water in their communities by strengthening requirements for annual drinking water quality reports,” said acting Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water Bruno Pigott. “Today's announcement will ensure these reports are easier to understand, and easier to access in additional languages to provide all people with the information they want and need about their water.”

The final rule will support public education by more clearly communicating important information in water quality reports and improving access to the reports. Water systems are currently required to provide annual drinking water reports to customers each year, and with this rule systems serving over 10,000 customers will be required to distribute reports twice per year. The final rule also introduces a new reporting requirement that will provide EPA with better information to make decisions on oversight, enforcement, regulatory revisions, and training and technical assistance. Today’s final rule will require states to submit compliance monitoring data they already receive from public water systems to EPA annually. 

Learn more about EPA’s Revised Consumer Report Rule, including upcoming webinars and fact sheet that provides more detail on the new requirements.

Background

A Consumer Confidence Report, sometimes called a “Drinking Water Quality Report,” summarizes information about the local drinking water. As part of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, Congress instructed EPA to revise the Consumer Confidence Report Rule. Today’s final rule will support the goal of the Safe Drinking Water Act “right-to-know” provisions by improving the Consumer Confidence Reports so that people can make better decisions about their drinking water. EPA’s final rule will work to further that goal by making sure important information in annual reports are accurate and accessible.

For further information: EPA Press Office press@epa.gov

 EPA Press Office:

New EPA Survey Highlights Wastewater Infrastructure Needs to Protect Waterbodies in Communities Across the Country

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, May 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency transmitted a report to Congress outlining clean water infrastructure investments—including wastewater and stormwater system upgrades—that are needed over the next 20 years. Through the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, states and U.S. territories report on future capital costs or investment needs to maintain and modernize publicly owned wastewater treatment works, stormwater infrastructure, nonpoint source control, and decentralized wastewater treatment systems like septic tanks. These investments are essential to supporting the Clean Water Act’s goal that our nation’s waters are fishable and swimmable.

The 2022 survey represents the most recent comprehensive and robust report on wastewater, stormwater, and other clean water infrastructure needs in the U.S., and shows that at least $630 billion will be needed over the next 20 years to protect our nation’s waterbodies. 

“Protecting our nations waterways is vital for healthy communities. They provide sources of drinking water, support farming, power economic opportunity and transport and allow for recreation and fishing,” said Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “This survey is an important estimate of needs that is based on information collected from the communities themselves. President Biden has secured the largest investments in history for water infrastructure, putting America in a strong position to help local systems protect our nation’s water quality.”

EPA has many federal funding resources available for communities and utilities to improve vital drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $50 billion investment in upgrading critical water infrastructure – with almost $13 billion going to wastewater and stormwater management. EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving fund has supported over $160 billion in infrastructure since its inception in 1987, and EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program has issued over $43 billion in financing for water infrastructure projects since 2018.

Learn more about the survey and access the interactive dashboard.

Background

This is the 17^th survey conducted since the passage of the Clean Water Act over 50 years ago. The last survey was conducted in 2012. Along with the needs data, the survey also collected technical data from all existing treatment facilities (e.g., flow, population served, effluent level, etc.). As of January 2022, there are 17,544 POTWs serving 270.4 million Americans, or 82% of the population. This information can be viewed and downloaded on the CWNS website.

For further information: EPA Press Office press@epa.gov

 EPA Press Office:

EPA Settlement Sets Stage for $2.4 Million Cleanup at Olean Well Field Superfund Site in Olean, New York

NEW YORK (May 14, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a final legal agreement with Kyocera AVX Components Corp. (KAVX) to clean up contaminated soil that was under the former AVX manufacturing building at the Olean Well Field Superfund Site in Olean, New York. The cleanup work has an estimate value of about $2.4 million. Under the agreement, the company will also pay some past and all future EPA oversight costs. The site includes several former industrial facilities that left the soil and groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). EPA has overseen work to cleanup soil and groundwater throughout the site. 

“This settlement allows us to address an important source of contamination and it ensures that the polluter is being held responsible for cleaning up contamination in this community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia.

On September 27, 2023, EPA finalized a cleanup plan for the portion of the site owned by KAVX. The plan will address soil contamination located under and near a former manufacturing building on the KAVX property.

Under the plan, KAVX will:

• Demolish and remove the concrete slab floor and foundation.
• Dig out the polluted soil that is above the water table.
• Take the dug-out material off-site for disposal in appropriate facilities.
• Restore the area with clean fill.

The Olean Well Field site is an approximately 1.5 square-mile area in Cattaraugus County that contains various wells, homes, and manufacturing facilities. Earlier industrial operations at the AVX property, as well as at three other facilities that EPA considers sources of site contamination, resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater with trichloroethylene, 1,4-dioxane, and other volatile organic compounds. As a result of the contamination at all four facilities, EPA added the site to the Superfund list in 1983. Since that time, EPA has taken steps to ensure clean public drinking water and to cleanup the four source facilities impacting soil and groundwater. Most of the work is being carried out by parties responsible for contamination at the site.

Before being finalized, the agreement, in the form of a judicial consent decree, was made available for a required 30-day public comment period.  No comments were received on the agreement.

Visit the Olean Well Field Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.

Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

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For further information: Contact: Carlos Vega, (646) 988-2996, vega.carlos@epa.gov

 EPA Press Office:

EPA, Congresswoman Wexton host event recognizing progress in accelerated cleanup, new waterline at Hidden Lane

PHILADELPHIA (May 14, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator and U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) celebrated the significant progress made in addressing contamination and restoring safe drinking water at the Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site in Sterling, Virginia.  

 

Thanks to more than $22 million made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the event marked the EPA’s aggressive remediation efforts in removing the TCE source area and preparing for installing a new waterline that will provide more than 110 homes with safe drinking water.   

 

"The EPA is committed to safeguarding our environment and communities," said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. "Thanks to resources provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA and its partners have accelerated cleanup efforts at the Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site to remove contaminants and provide safe drinking water. This incredible progress demonstrates the EPA's promise to remove contamination, revitalize communities and local economies, and deliver on our mission to protect public health and the environment." 

 

Loudoun County Supervisor Juli Briskman, community members and representatives from federal, state and local partners also joined the two officials.  

 

“I’m proud that thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re taking long-awaited action to clean up the Hidden Lane Superfund site in Sterling, "said U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (VA-10). This will make our community healthier and safer. I applaud the efforts currently underway here by the EPA and state and local agencies to remove toxic substances from the soil and groundwater, including the dangerous chemical TCE which has been tied to Parkinson’s Disease. I look forward to continuing to support this cleanup in any way that I can." 

 

The historic BIL funding invested $3.5 billion in Superfund cleanups across the country, dramatically empowering the EPA to address legacy pollution and protect public health and surrounding communities. The final wave of funding was announced in February. 

 

Altogether, the Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site received: 

• Approximately $5 million for TCE source area cleanup 
• Approximately $17 million for the installation of a new public waterline 

 

Excavation at the site started Feb. 20 and is set to finish later this year. Construction on the waterline is also expected to begin later this year.  

 

The Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site, located between the Broad Run Farms and CountrySide communities, was added to the National Priorities List in 2008. 

 

Community members can email r3-hidden.lane@epa.gov with questions or concerns about the cleanup process.  

 

Visit the Hidden Lane Landfill Superfund site profile page for more information. 

 EPA Press Office:

EPA completes removal of over 100,000 cubic yards of contamination at the Raymark Superfund Site

$113 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding addresses legacy contamination and ensures the protection of human health

Contact Information: Mikayla Rumph, rumph.mikayla@epa.gov, (617) 918-1016 or R1_Press@epa.gov

STRATFORD, CONN. (May 14, 2024) – Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash joined members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Mayor of Stratford, and local community members to highlight the significant progress made at the Raymark Industries, Inc. Superfund Site under funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“This unprecedented funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allowed EPA and its partners to deliver on our promise to protect the community from legacy contamination, as well as cleanup and restore land for reuse in Stratford,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Though there’s still a long road ahead of us, we’re looking forward to continuing full steam ahead, restoring additional properties and bringing the Raymark cleanup to completion.”

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for the Stratford, Connecticut site propelled the cleanup forward, thus far EPA and its partners have been able to complete the following activities:

• More than 100,000 cubic yards of contamination excavated and removed;
• 28 properties cleaned up and restored, including 12 active businesses;
• 1/3 of a mile of Ferry Creek cleaned up and working to restore the natural habitat by planting over an acre of wetland seed, live stakes, and nearly 1,000 trees and shrubs;
• More than 10,000 air samples collected from 9 monitoring stations to confirm the air remained safe;
• Provided 30 to 50 jobs each workday including engineers, scientists, machine operators, laborers and truck drivers.

Officials took a tour of the remediated properties to view the progress and participated in a roundtable conversation with local community members to discuss the positive impacts that the cleanup has had on the town. EPA Regional Administrator Cash and partners also conducted a ceremonial removal of a Public Health Advisory sign which had been posted decades ago to warn against exposure to Raymark contamination in the upstream portion of Ferry Creek but is no longer needed now that this portion of the creek has been cleaned up.

What They Are Saying

“Thanks to $113 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Stratford’s Raymark Superfund site is being transformed from a perilously polluted old industrial site to a healthy, economically viable property,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. “Under the EPA’s leadership, dangerous levels of pollution and contamination have been removed, natural wetland and woodland habitats have been restored, and 28 properties have been remediated. I am thrilled to see strong federal resources in action here in Stratford, and I will keep fighting for additional funding to complete these transformative projects across Connecticut.”  

“The progress made toward cleaning up the Raymark Superfund Site would not have been possible without the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 100,00 cubic yards is a big milestone, and it’s great to see the EPA invested in making sure the project is completed. This cleanup will restore the natural habitat, bring good-paying jobs to Stratford, and, most importantly, give families and local businesses peace of mind for years to come,” said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy.

“This is a great day for the Town of Stratford and the many residents and business owners who have been impacted by Raymark and though we still have work to do, I am so glad to see the incredible progress with the remediation work that has been completed to date,” said U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro, CT-03. “I was proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for many reasons, and the $3.5 billion allocated for Superfund cleanup work was one, knowing what an impact it could make here in Stratford. Most importantly, this project is ensuring the remediation of environmental hazards, but with that has also come additional stormwater infrastructure that will have an impact for the entire community. We started this process with some very difficult challenges -- the partnership and trust that has been built between the community, the EPA, and DEEP has been hard won, and in working together real improvement is being realized.”

“Connecticut DEEP applauds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its partnership in the cleanup of Raymark waste material from various parcels in southern Stratford,” said Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes. “These efforts, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, have resulted in the removal of 100,000 cubic yards of Raymark waste from commercial properties, inland wetlands, coastal areas, and tidal wetlands. This incredible federal state, and local partnership is getting the job done as these historically contaminated sites are being properly remediated and restored to become places that will be safer to recreate in and utilized for positive re-use.”  

“First and foremost, I would like to recognize the EPA and its administrators over the years for understanding the importance and for continuing to advocate for the full scope of this remediation project. The EPA has championed moving the remediation forward in many ways, and I am grateful for the initial $95 million appropriated and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that continued to fund the collaborative efforts of the EPA and Stratford in the remediation process,” said Stratford Mayor Laura R. Hoydick. I would also like to acknowledge our Health Director, Andrea Bossevain, and Health Program Associate, Alivia Coleman, for their dedication to such a substantial project. Andrea has spent 33+ years overseeing the partnership on this between the Town and the EPA, first as a consultant and then as our Health Director, and for the past ten years Alivia has worked with the EPA to ensure the project continues to run smoothly and efficiently. I am very proud of the progress that has been made as we work towards completing this critically important remediation. I would also like to thank Andrea, Alivia, and Stratford's departments, and the EPA, for their transparency and thoughtful communication with our residents throughout the process. We are fortunate to have a fantastic team making great strides while always keeping the public's health as a top priority. I am also grateful and thankful to Stratford's residents who have lived with the scars of Raybestos and who have continued to work with the federal, state and local governments through the long length of this project.”

Background

The 34-acre Stratford site, added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1995, was the location of the Raymark Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of automotive breaks, clutch parts, and other friction components. Raymark operated at this location from 1919 until 1989 when operations ceased, leaving behind contamination in area soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater that consisted of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), asbestos, lead, copper, and about a dozen other chemical compounds known to be carcinogenic or otherwise toxic to human health and the environment. The Raymark manufacturing waste was historically discharged to a series of unlined lagoons allowing chemicals to seep into the groundwater and overflow to a nearby creek. Periodically, sludge was removed from these lagoons and disposed of as fill on the former facility property. Over time, this waste material was given away as free fill used within the Town of Stratford at a minimum of 46 residential properties and over two dozen other commercial, recreational and municipal properties. In addition, several wetland areas near the Housatonic River were also filled in with Raymark's manufacturing waste. 

In 1980, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, was passed. The novel law gave EPA the authority and funds to hold polluters accountable for cleaning up the most contaminated sites across the country. When no viable responsible party is found or cannot afford the cleanup, funds appropriated by Congress are used. A tax on chemical and petroleum industries provided funds to the Superfund Trust fund for Superfund cleanups up until the taxing authority expired in 1995. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law reinstated the chemical excise taxes and invested an additional $3.5 billion in environmental remediation at Superfund sites, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address the legacy pollution that harms human health and the environment of communities and neighborhoods.

More information:

Raymark Industries, Inc. Superfund Site webpage: epa.gov/superfund/raymark

 EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Marks 2024 Infrastructure Week as $11.5 Billion in Water Infrastructure Investments Reach State Finance Programs Across the Country Through Investing in America Agenda

WASHINGTON – Today, May 13, as the Biden-Harris Administration kicks off Infrastructure Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency highlighted the more than $11.5 billion in water infrastructure funding available for states this year through the FY24 State Revolving Fund programs, under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, communities across the country have access to unprecedented funding through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs for priority water infrastructure projects that upgrade aging water mains and pumps, replace toxic lead pipes, address per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and improve community resilience to climate change impacts like flooding.

“Water infrastructure is a critical part of our daily lives. It delivers clean, safe drinking water; it collects and treats wastewater and it helps to manage floodwater and drought impacts,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “Maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure is essential to protecting public health and the environment, and it creates family-sustaining jobs. That is the win-win that EPA is delivering to communities through $11.5 billion for water under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.”

Communities across the country are facing water infrastructure challenges. Many cities and towns have aging water infrastructure – old, broken, or toxic lead pipes carrying drinking water and wastewater treatment plants in need of major upgrades. Some communities need to upgrade their drinking water systems to reduce contaminants like PFAS while others struggle to maintain adequate stormwater infrastructure to effectively manage flood impacts from climate change.

In 2024, EPA has announced a number of investments for the SRF programs. Funding for the SRF programs has been allotted to the states, who then provide financial assistance to communities in their states for critical water infrastructure projects. This year, EPA has announced a total of $8.8 billion for both the Clean Water SRF and the Drinking Water SRF from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Nearly half of this funding is dedicated to support disadvantaged communities and does not have to be paid back, ensuring that this historic funding flows to communities that need it most. These programs are part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other covered investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments are in addition to the annual appropriations for the SRF programs. This year, the base program allotments provided to the states through the Clean Water SRF total $824 million and for Drinking Water SRF total $466 million. Combined, EPA’s SRF investment in 2024 is more than $11.5 billion. View a chart that outlines all of the 2024 SRF investments on EPA’s Water Infrastructure website.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Action

Since 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has injected almost $25 billion into water infrastructure projects across the country, protecting public health, preserving water resources, and creating jobs. To view stories about how the unpreceded investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s new Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about some additional projects that are underway, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects and explore the State Revolving Funds Public Portal.   

Background

The Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and the Clean Water State Revolving Funds have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing more than $229 billion in low-cost financing for local projects across America. The 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 – payment of principal and interest on loans made are available to address future needs.

For more information, including state-by-state allotment of 2024 funding, and a breakdown of EPA State Revolving Fund funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund website.

For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 EPA Press Office:

REMINDER: Register now for EPA’s 3rd Annual Mid-Atlantic Summit happening in TWO DAYS!

“Empowering Communities for Environmental Equity” theme provides opportunity for conversation about equitable access to healthy and sustainable communities

PHILADELPHIA (May 14^th, 2024) – EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region announced today that registration is now open for its 3^rd Annual environmental summit, to be held virtually on May 16, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free and open to the public, this event will convene representatives from communities, non-profits, Tribes, advocacy groups, industry, academia, and state and local governments from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Senior Advisor and Assistant to President Biden, Tom Perez, will join EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe will offer opening remarks. Anyone interested in the environment, policy, and public health are encouraged to attend.

Building on this year’s theme, “Empowering Communities for Environmental Equity,” the summit is an opportunity to participate in conversations and information sharing about equitable access to healthy and sustainable communities. Sessions and panels will feature meteorologists, climate experts, and first responders and cover topics such as grants, small farmer equity, and how local mayors are putting the environment first. 

Full details on the agenda, session descriptions, speakers, and the registration portal can be found here: https://web.cvent.com/event/a40840fe-b2dc-4848-81d6-dd2afdbe6c70/summary.

"Communities across our region are doing the work in protecting the environment. This is an opportunity to engage across geographical boundaries to learn best practices and see what's happening in one community that could be beneficial to another," said U.S. EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, Adam Ortiz. "Environmental concerns are going to take all of us working together, breaking down silos, and sharing information.

The summit will be hosted using Zoom Events, a virtual meeting platform building off the functions of Zoom Meetings & Webinars. Once registered, participants will have access to the Zoom Event portal that will be a central hub for meeting activities and will be the route to the myriad sessions supporting this summit.

Accommodations to participate in this workshop can be made by contacting Joy Lee Pearson via voice telephone at 202-715-3851 or via email at EPAMidAtlSummit@michaeldbaker.com. TTY users should contact the Federal TTY Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Read more about EPA's Reasonable Accommodations. Requests should be made at least 5 business days in advance of the event. Please contact us so we may serve you better. 

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 EPA Press Office:

EPA announces 2024 Regional Pollution Prevention Award Program

Applications will be accepted through May 24

SEATTLE (May 13, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 10 announced the Regional Pollution Prevention (P2) Award Program for 2024.

The program recognizes companies for leadership in innovative P2 practices within Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and businesses operating on Tribal lands.

“The P2 program provides a unique opportunity for EPA to support efforts being led by companies across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska to prevent and reduce pollution,” said Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller.

EPA’s P2 program is voluntary and empowers stakeholders to seek innovative ways to prevent pollution from entering waste streams through a competitive grant process and the provision of technical assistance to businesses.

Those interested in applying must submit a complete application by May 24, describing pollution prevention efforts and activities, cost savings, pounds of hazardous chemicals reduced, energy conserved, or gallons of water saved, as well as the replicability of their approach.

Background

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 defines P2 as any practice that reduces environmental releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants prior to entering a waste stream for recycling, treatment or disposal. P2 conserves natural resources, including water and energy, by focusing industry, government and public attention on reducing pollution through the implementation of cost-effective changes in production, operation and the use of raw materials.

Visit the P2 website for more information.

Contact: EPA Region 10 Press Team (R10_Press_Team@epa.gov)

 EPA Press Office:

Puerto Rico to Get $28.6 Million for Lead Pipe Replacement to Advance Safe Drinking Water (Spanish Translation Included)

EPA announces latest round of funding toward President Biden’s commitment to replace every lead pipe in the nation, protecting public health and helping to deliver safe drinking water

San Juan, P.R. (May 13, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $28.6 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help Puerto Rico identify and replace lead service lines to prevent exposure to lead in drinking water. Lead can cause a range of serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. To protect children and families, President Biden has committed to replacing every lead pipe in the country. Today’s announcement, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and available through EPA’s successful Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, takes another major step to advance this work and environmental justice, and bolsters the Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and EPA’s Get the Lead Out Initiative.

Working collaboratively, EPA and the State Revolving Funds are advancing the President’s Justice40 Initiative as lead exposure disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income families. The total funding announced through this program to date is expected to replace up to 1.7 million lead pipes nationwide, securing clean drinking water for countless families.

“The science is clear, there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water is through lead pipes,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “President Biden understands it is critical to identify and remove lead pipes as quickly as possible, and he has secured significant resources for states and territories to accelerate the permanent removal of dangerous lead pipes once and for all.”

“Every Puerto Rican family deserves safe drinking water when they turn on their tap and this major injection of funding will further bolster the work to achieve that goal,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “For too long, the urgent need to improve our drinking water systems has far outweighed the available funding. This crucial Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is helping close that gap.”

"The continued exposure to lead in drinking water is a serious health risk to individuals, especially children. I am pleased that Puerto Rico will be receiving $28.6 million in funding for lead water service line replacement under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  This funding through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) helps us to move forward in addressing the pressing issue of aging infrastructure and safeguarding the health of our residents,” said U.S. Representative Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon. “By replacing these outdated lines, we are improving water quality and protecting our communities' well-being for generations to come. I am proud to have been part of the effort to craft and pass the BIL as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As we move forward, I remain dedicated to advocating for additional investments in Puerto Rico's infrastructure to address longstanding challenges and build a more resilient future for all."

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests a historic $15 billion to identify and replace lead service lines. The law mandates that 49% of funds provided through the DWSRF General Supplemental Funding and DWSRF Lead Service Line Replacement Funding must be provided as grants and forgivable loans to disadvantaged communities, a crucial investment for communities that have been underinvested in for too long. EPA projects a national total of 9 million lead services lines across the country, based on data collected from the updated 7^th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment. The funding announced today will be provided specifically for lead service line identification and replacement and will help every state and territory fund projects to remove lead pipes and reduce exposure to lead from drinking water. This Lead Service Line-specific formula allows states to receive financial assistance commensurate with their need as soon as possible, furthering public health protection nationwide. To ensure that funding is used for lead service line related activities, LSLR allotments are based on need — meaning that states with more projected lead service lines receive proportionally more.

Alongside the funding announced today, EPA is also releasing a memorandum that clarifies how states can use this and other funding to most effectively reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. Additionally, EPA has developed new outreach documents to help water systems educate their customers on drinking water issues, health impacts of lead exposure, service line ownership, and how customers can support the identification of potential lead service lines in their homes.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious initiative to remove lead pipes has already delivered significant results for families across the nation. Today’s latest funding will ensure more Puerto Rican families benefit from these unprecedented resources and support projects like these:

• The Puerto Rico Department of Health’s project will utilize funds to further the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act. This agreement will provide funds to replace lead drinking water service lines and help identify the planning, design and replacement of service lines of customer-owned and PRASA-owned service lines. The Department of Health will also use this funding to provide technical assistance to state program managers and small water system administrators.

To view more stories about how the unprecedented investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Story Map. To read more about some additional projects that are underway, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects and explore the State Revolving Funds Public Portal.  

Today’s allotments are based on EPA’s updated 7^th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment including an assessment of the one-time update submissions. To date, this is the best available data collected and assessed on service line materials in the United States. Later this summer, EPA will release an addendum to the 7^th DWINSA Report to Congress, which will include the updated lead service line projections. EPA anticipates initiating data collection, which will include information on lead service lines, for the 8^th DWINSA in 2025.

For more information, including state-by-state allotment of 2024 funding and a breakdown of EPA’s lead Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, please visit EPA’s Drinking Water website.

Follow EPA Region 2 on X and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

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Puerto Rico recibirá $28.6 millones para reemplazar tuberías de plomo para lograr agua potable segura

La EPA anuncia la última ronda de financiamiento del compromiso del presidente Biden para reemplazar todas las tuberías de plomo del país, protegiendo así la salud pública y ayudando a abastecer agua potable segura

Contacto: Iris M. Crawford (Crawford.iris@epa.gov) 347-908-3374

San Juan, P.R. (13 de mayo de 2024) – Hoy, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) anunció la asignación de $28.6 millones de la agenda Invertir en Estados Unidos del presidente Biden para ayudar a Puerto Rico a identificar y reemplazar las tuberías de plomo para prevenir la exposición al plomo en el agua potable. El plomo puede causar una serie de graves efectos en la salud, incluido el daño irreversible al desarrollo cerebral de los niños. Para proteger a los niños y las familias, el presidente Biden se ha comprometido a reemplazar todas las tuberías de plomo del país. El anuncio de hoy, financiado por la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura y disponible a través del exitoso Fondo Rotatorio Estatal de Agua Potable de la EPA (DWSRF), da otro paso importante para avanzar en este trabajo y la justicia ambiental y refuerza el Plan de Acción de Tuberías y Pinturas de Plomo de la Administración y la Iniciativa Eliminar el Plomo de la EPA.

Trabajando en colaboración, la EPA y los Fondos Rotatorios Estatales están promoviendo la Iniciativa Justice40 del Presidente, ya que la exposición al plomo afecta de manera desproporcionada a las comunidades desventajadas y a las familias de bajos ingresos. Se espera que los fondos totales anunciados a través de este programa hasta la fecha reemplacen hasta 1.7 millones de tuberías de plomo en todo el país, asegurando agua potable limpia para innumerables familias.

“La ciencia lo ha dejado en claro, no existe un nivel seguro de exposición al plomo, y la principal fuente de exposición dañina en el agua potable es a través de las tuberías de plomo”, comentó el administrador de la EPA, Michael S. Regan. “El presidente Biden entiende que es fundamental identificar y eliminar las tuberías de plomo lo más rápido posible, y ha asegurado recursos significativos para que los estados y territorios aceleren la eliminación permanente de las peligrosas tuberías de plomo de una vez por todas”.

“Todas las familias puertorriqueñas merecen agua potable segura cuando abren el grifo y esta importante inyección de fondos reforzará aún más el trabajo para lograr esa meta”, indicó la administradora regional de la EPA, Lisa F. García. “Durante demasiado tiempo, la necesidad urgente de mejorar nuestros sistemas de agua potable ha superado con creces los fondos disponibles. Este financiamiento crucial de la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura está ayudando a cerrar esa brecha”.

“La exposición continua al plomo en el agua potable es un grave riesgo para la salud de las personas, especialmente de los niños. Me complace que Puerto Rico recibirá $28.6 millones en fondos para el reemplazo de tuberías de servicio de agua con plomo conforme a la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura.  Este financiamiento a través del Fondo Rotatorio Estatal (SRF) nos ayuda a avanzar en abordar el problema apremiante de la infraestructura envejecida y salvaguardar la salud de nuestros residentes”, señaló la representante Jenniffer González-Colón. “Al reemplazar estas tuberías obsoletas, estamos mejorando la calidad del agua y protegiendo el bienestar de nuestras comunidades para las generaciones venideras. Estoy orgullosa de haber sido parte del esfuerzo para elaborar y aprobar la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura como miembro del Comité de Transporte e Infraestructura de la Cámara de Representantes. A medida que avanzamos, sigo dedicada a abogar por inversiones adicionales en la infraestructura de Puerto Rico para abordar los desafíos de larga data y construir un futuro más resiliente para todos”.

La Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura invierte la cifra histórica de $15 mil millones para identificar y reemplazar las tuberías de servicio de plomo. La ley exige que el 49% de los fondos proporcionados a través de la Financiación Suplementaria General del Fondo Rotatorio Estatal para Agua Potable (DWSRF) y la Financiación de Reemplazo de la Línea de Servicio Principal de la DWSRF se proporcionen como subvenciones y préstamos condonables a las comunidades desventajadas, una inversión crucial para las comunidades en las que no se ha invertido lo suficiente durante demasiado tiempo. La EPA proyecta un total nacional de 9 millones de tuberías de servicios de plomo en todo el país, según los datos recopilados de la 7ª Encuesta y Evaluación de Necesidades de Infraestructura de Agua Potable. Los fondos anunciados hoy se proporcionarán específicamente para la identificación y reemplazo de tuberías de servicio de plomo y ayudarán a todos los estados y territorios a financiar proyectos para eliminar las tuberías de plomo y reducir la exposición al plomo del agua potable. Esta fórmula específica de la Línea de Servicio de Plomo permite a los estados recibir asistencia financiera acorde con sus necesidades lo antes posible, promoviendo la protección de la salud pública en todo el país. Para garantizar que los fondos se utilicen para actividades relacionadas con las tuberías de servicio de plomo, las asignaciones de LSLR se basan en la necesidad, lo que significa que los estados con más tuberías de servicio de plomo proyectadas reciben proporcionalmente más.

Junto con el financiamiento anunciado hoy, la EPA también publica un memorándum que aclara la manera en que los estados pueden usar este y otros fondos para reducir más eficazmente la exposición al plomo en el agua potable. Además, la EPA ha desarrollado nuevos documentos de divulgación para ayudar a los sistemas de agua a educar a sus clientes sobre los problemas del agua potable, los impactos en la salud de la exposición al plomo, la propiedad de las tuberías de servicio y cómo los clientes pueden apoyar la identificación de posibles tuberías de servicio de plomo en sus hogares.

La ambiciosa iniciativa de la Administración Biden-Harris para eliminar las tuberías de plomo ya ha dado resultados significativos para las familias de todo el país. Los últimos fondos de hoy asegurarán que más familias puertorriqueñas se beneficien de estos recursos sin precedentes y apoyen proyectos como estos:

• El proyecto del Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico utilizará fondos para promover los objetivos de protección de la salud de la Ley de Agua Potable Segura. Este acuerdo proporcionará fondos para reemplazar las tuberías de servicio de agua potable con plomo y ayudará a identificar la planificación, el diseño y el reemplazo de las tuberías de servicio de las tuberías de servicio propiedad del cliente y de la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA). El Departamento de Salud también utilizará estos fondos para proporcionar asistencia técnica a los administradores de programas estatales y a los administradores de pequeños sistemas de agua.

Para ver más historias sobre cómo las inversiones sin precedentes de la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura están transformando comunidades en todo el país, visite el Esquema Narrativo sobre la Infraestructura de Agua de Invertir en Estados Unidos. Para obtener más información sobre algunos proyectos adicionales que están en marcha, consulte el informe de la EPA publicado recientemente Informe Trimestral sobre proyectos SRF de Agua Limpia y Agua Potable Financiados por la Ley Bipartidista de Infraestructura y explore el Portal Público de Fondos Rotatorios Estatales.  

Las asignaciones de hoy se basan en la 7ª Encuesta y Evaluación de Necesidades de Infraestructura de Agua Potable actualizada de la EPA, que incluye una evaluación de las presentaciones de actualización únicas. Hasta la fecha, estos son los mejores datos disponibles recopilados y evaluados sobre los materiales de las tuberías de servicio en los Estados Unidos. A finales de este verano, la EPA publicará un apéndice al 7º Informe DWINSA al Congreso, que incluirá las proyecciones actualizadas de las tuberías de servicio de plomo. La EPA anticipa el inicio de la recopilación de datos, que incluirá información sobre las tuberías de servicio de plomo, para el 8º DWINSA en 2025.

Para obtener más información, incluida la asignación de fondos para 2024 estado por estado y un desglose del Fondo Rotativo Estatal de Agua Potable de la EPA, visite el sitio web de Agua Potable de la EPA.

Siga a la Región 2 de la EPA en X y visite nuestra página en Facebook. Para obtener más información sobre la Región 2 de la EPA, visite nuestro sitio web.

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For further information: Contact: Iris M. Crawford (Crawford.iris@epa.gov) 347-908-3374