How far will $15 billion take us in replacing lead pipes?
Congress provided $15 billion to replace toxic lead water pipes that pose serious health risks to millions of Americans. This map shows how far that money will go.
This map combines NRDC estimates of the number of lead pipes per state with the EPA allotments of IIJA funds for each state. EPA uses a formula to allot the IIJA funds based on drinking water infrastructure needs. The data for this map are from the 2015 needs assessment. In January 2023, the White House announced that EPA will revise the amount of IIJA funds that each state will receive based on the 2020 needs assessment, which is expected to be published in spring 2023. The 2020 needs assessment will be the first to include specific information on states’ lead service line replacement needs. Based on these reported needs, states in the Northeast and Great Lakes should receive more for lead service line replacement relative to the amounts allotted from IIJA funds for 2022, while Western states should receive less. Approximately $1.2 billion dollars for tribes and territories and administration costs have been subtracted from $15 billion in IIJA funding for lead service line replacement. The cost of replacing a lead service line across the country varies greatly, though the 2019 EPA average was $4,700 per pipe.
More About EPIC’s Work on Data & Innovation to Speed Up Lead Pipe Replacement
Our work focuses on which communities are replacing lead pipes faster, equitably, and efficiently. From policy and community engagement to data and funding, we explore what’s working and not working - so that we can replicate success and best practices around the country.
Tracking Federal Water Infrastructure Funding
In collaboration with Environmental Defense Fund and the Massive Data Institute at Georgetown University, we are tracking the new influx of federal funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, through Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.
Sparking Innovation
The 2021 Water Data Prize sought to spur ideas and innovation around replacing lead pipes, by focusing on new tools, templates, and technologies. See the following publications in our Tap Into Innovation series for more on the best ideas from prize submissions and our work in the intersection of lead pipes, data, and technology.