Lead & Copper Rule Improvements: Updates from the EPA

In May, Water & Climate Resiliency Specialist Sarah Howe wrote Lead Service Lines and Replacement Efforts in Iowa to dig into the legacy of lead service lines (LSLs) in Iowa and share information from the DNR and federal resources to help Iowans as they think about their infrastructure needs. In October, the Biden-Harris Administration released their final Lead & Copper Rule Improvements as part of the Investing in America Agenda. Read on to learn more.

Review of LSLs in Iowa 

As aforementioned in our previous blog, lead service lines (LSLs) and galvanized steel lead lines are dangerous to human health. Lead is a known contaminant to drinking water, contributing to serious health and developmental problems for children and pregnant women. Exposure can cause developmental delays, damage to the nervous system, fertility issues, mental illnesses, and kidney failure. The 2024 Iowa Ideas Conference featured Mike Schmidt, IEC Staff Attorney, on a panel discussing the impacts of LSLs and steps homeowners can take to reduce exposure to lead. 

In Iowa, it is unclear just how many lead service lines exist. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is developing a Lead Service Line Inventory, which is not yet public. This statewide inventory is mandated by the EPA’s 2021 Lead and Copper Rules Revisions (LCRR), which requires public water systems to identify and share the locations of lead, non-lead, and unknown service leads in a comprehensive inventory. As of October 2024, some Iowa cities, such as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Dubuque, have elected to make their LSL inventories public. 

New Rules, New Funding 

LSL replacement has been prohibitively expensive without raising rates, but the recent influx of federal funding provides a path forward. The Biden Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan accelerates investments made through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace all lead pipes in the United States by 2031. This funding will also work to supplement existing statewide funding through Iowa’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).  

Additionally, the Biden-Harris Administration's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold requiring communities to take action to protect people from lead exposure in water. This final rule serves as a guide to replace every lead pipe in the country within a decade, making sure that all communities can turn on the tap and drink clean water. In addition to replacing the lead pipes, the LCRI requires communities to develop a LSL replacement plan, adhere to sampling requirements, and change treatment plans if water samples indicate elevated lead levels. 

On October 8, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency introduced a new rule requiring all utilities and water service providers to replace lead pipes by 2035. To do so, $2.6 billion will be distributed to replace drinking water infrastructure across the United States, with nearly $40 million allocated to Iowa’s schools, homes, and businesses. Iowa is on track to receive $162 million based on allocations to date, and 49% of the funding must be provided to disadvantaged communities as grant funding or principal loan forgiveness that does not have to be repaid. This funding was made available through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. The EPA also recently announced the availability of $35 million in competitive grant funding for reducing lead in drinking water in Iowa so that utility providers can begin the work immediately.   

Staying Informed 

The Iowa DNR’s plans for LSL replacement in public water systems are available on their webpage, along with resources to learn more about funding these projects. The DNR’s Drinking Water Portal – Public Water Supply Dashboard offers Iowans the opportunity to submit LSL records for their property. The DNR is also developing a tool that public water suppliers can use to check their LSL inventories for errors. This work is especially difficult in rural, remote areas with private water systems. Hear from the DNR’s State Revolving Fund Coordinator, Theresa Enright, on funding lead service line replacement programs using existing State Revolving Funds on this public webinar.  

If you’re interested in learning more about available grants and programs supporting lead service line research and replacement, visit IEC’s refreshed Iowa Energy and Infrastructure Funding Hub. The Hub serves Iowans to better understand and access federal support for climate resilience and energy projects. This includes new opportunities made available from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Some programs are available immediately for businesses, nonprofits, communities, and individuals.  

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