EPA Strengthens Standards to Protect Children from Exposure to Lead Paint Dust
WASHINGTON — Today, Oct. 24, marking National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized stronger requirements for identifying and cleaning up lead paint dust in pre-1978 homes and childcare facilities. The final standards are the latest action in President Biden’s whole-of-government strategy to protect families and children from lead exposure. Children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of lead exposure, which can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including behavioral problems, lower IQ, slowed growth and more. In adults, exposure can cause increased risk of cardiovascular disease and may cause cancer. EPA estimates that this rule will reduce the lead exposures of up to nearly 1.2 million people every year, of which 178,000 to 326,000 are children under the age of six.
The stronger standards deliver on the Biden-Harris administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, announced by Vice President Kamala Harris in December of 2021, which harnesses the full breadth of the Administration’s authorities to protect children from the dangers of lead exposure, including historic investments secured by President Biden. This action also advances EPA’s strategy to address the significant disparities in lead exposure along racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines.
“Too often our children, the most vulnerable residents of already overburdened communities, are the most profoundly impacted by the toxic legacy of lead-based paint,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA is getting the lead out of communities nationwide. These protections will reduce lead exposures for hundreds of thousands of people every year, helping kids grow up healthy and meet their full potential.”
“We can all breathe a little easier now that the EPA has significantly lowered its dust lead standard to protect children,” said Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder & Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “For decades, the academic and advocacy communities have understood that there is no safe level of lead in a child’s blood. I am a New Yorker whose state leads the nation in cases of children with elevated blood levels. I am an environmental justice leader based in Harlem where studies show that Black children living below the poverty line are twice as likely to suffer from lead poisoning as poor white children. I applaud EPA’s action to address this deadly challenge for our children and families.”
There is no safe level of lead exposure, particularly for children. In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slow down learning, and irreversibly damage the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and may cause cancer. If someone is impacted by lead exposure, there is no known antidote, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Today’s final rule reduces the level of lead in dust that EPA considers hazardous to any reportable level measured by an EPA-recognized laboratory. The rule also lowers the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills and window troughs after a lead paint abatement occurs to the levels listed below, the lowest levels that can be reliably and quickly measured in laboratories. This will result in significant reductions in exposures when compared to prior standards. The rule is strengthening these standards from:
10 micrograms per square foot (µg/ft2) to 5 µg/ft2 for floors,
100 µg/ft2 to 40 µg/ft2 for window sills, and
400 µg/ft2 to 100 µg/ft2 for window troughs.
These levels reflect standards implemented by New York City in 2021. The new standards will better protect children and communities from the harmful effects resulting from exposure to dust generated from lead paint.
Property owners, lead-based paint professionals and government agencies may identify dust-lead hazards in residential and childcare facilities built before 1978 after learning that a child living there has a high blood lead level, or because of requirements for housing receiving federal funding, among other reasons. If lead abatement is needed, EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Activities Program requires individuals and firms performing the abatement to be certified and follow specific work practices. Following an abatement, testing is then required to ensure dust-lead levels are below the new post-abatement dust lead action levels before the abatement can be considered complete.
Although the federal government banned lead-based paint for residential use in 1978, it is estimated that 31 million pre-1978 houses still contain lead-based paint, and 3.8 million of them have one or more children under the age of six living there. Lead-contaminated dust is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children, and even low levels of exposure can be harmful. Lead dust commonly results when lead-based paint deteriorates or is disturbed. Due to normal behaviors such as crawling and hand-to-mouth activities, young children are particularly at risk of higher exposure to ingesting this lead-containing dust.
Communities of color and lower income communities are often at greater risk of lead exposure because deteriorated lead-based paint is more likely to be found in lower-income areas. Communities of color can also face greater risk of lead-based paint exposure due to the legacy of redlining, historic racial segregation in housing, and reduced access to environmentally safe and affordable housing.
Earlier this month, EPA issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. EPA also announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is available to support lead pipe replacement and inventory projects. Together, these and other actions taken under the Biden-Harris Administration will help protect Americans from exposure to lead.
Background
Historically, EPA set the same standard for the level of lead found in dust from old paint that has to be reported and the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills and window troughs after a lead paint abatement occurs. This action decouples the two levels, which were last updated in 2019 and 2021, respectively. This is being done in accordance with a May 2021 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion, which explains that dust-lead reportable levels (previously called dust-lead hazard standards) must be based solely on health factors, while the dust-lead action levels (previously called dust-lead clearance levels) must consider the additional factors of safety, effectiveness and reliability. Today’s rule aligns both standards with the best available science, further strengthening EPA’s efforts to protect children from lead hazards.
EPA will host a public webinar to provide an overview of the rule on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Please use the registration link to register for this webinar.
Learn more about EPA’s dust-lead standards and the upcoming public webinar on this final rulemaking.
The stronger standards deliver on the Biden-Harris administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, announced by Vice President Kamala Harris in December of 2021, which harnesses the full breadth of the Administration’s authorities to protect children from the dangers of lead exposure, including historic investments secured by President Biden. This action also advances EPA’s strategy to address the significant disparities in lead exposure along racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines.
“Too often our children, the most vulnerable residents of already overburdened communities, are the most profoundly impacted by the toxic legacy of lead-based paint,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA is getting the lead out of communities nationwide. These protections will reduce lead exposures for hundreds of thousands of people every year, helping kids grow up healthy and meet their full potential.”
“We can all breathe a little easier now that the EPA has significantly lowered its dust lead standard to protect children,” said Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder & Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “For decades, the academic and advocacy communities have understood that there is no safe level of lead in a child’s blood. I am a New Yorker whose state leads the nation in cases of children with elevated blood levels. I am an environmental justice leader based in Harlem where studies show that Black children living below the poverty line are twice as likely to suffer from lead poisoning as poor white children. I applaud EPA’s action to address this deadly challenge for our children and families.”
There is no safe level of lead exposure, particularly for children. In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slow down learning, and irreversibly damage the brain. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and may cause cancer. If someone is impacted by lead exposure, there is no known antidote, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Today’s final rule reduces the level of lead in dust that EPA considers hazardous to any reportable level measured by an EPA-recognized laboratory. The rule also lowers the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills and window troughs after a lead paint abatement occurs to the levels listed below, the lowest levels that can be reliably and quickly measured in laboratories. This will result in significant reductions in exposures when compared to prior standards. The rule is strengthening these standards from:
10 micrograms per square foot (µg/ft2) to 5 µg/ft2 for floors,
100 µg/ft2 to 40 µg/ft2 for window sills, and
400 µg/ft2 to 100 µg/ft2 for window troughs.
These levels reflect standards implemented by New York City in 2021. The new standards will better protect children and communities from the harmful effects resulting from exposure to dust generated from lead paint.
Property owners, lead-based paint professionals and government agencies may identify dust-lead hazards in residential and childcare facilities built before 1978 after learning that a child living there has a high blood lead level, or because of requirements for housing receiving federal funding, among other reasons. If lead abatement is needed, EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Activities Program requires individuals and firms performing the abatement to be certified and follow specific work practices. Following an abatement, testing is then required to ensure dust-lead levels are below the new post-abatement dust lead action levels before the abatement can be considered complete.
Although the federal government banned lead-based paint for residential use in 1978, it is estimated that 31 million pre-1978 houses still contain lead-based paint, and 3.8 million of them have one or more children under the age of six living there. Lead-contaminated dust is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children, and even low levels of exposure can be harmful. Lead dust commonly results when lead-based paint deteriorates or is disturbed. Due to normal behaviors such as crawling and hand-to-mouth activities, young children are particularly at risk of higher exposure to ingesting this lead-containing dust.
Communities of color and lower income communities are often at greater risk of lead exposure because deteriorated lead-based paint is more likely to be found in lower-income areas. Communities of color can also face greater risk of lead-based paint exposure due to the legacy of redlining, historic racial segregation in housing, and reduced access to environmentally safe and affordable housing.
Earlier this month, EPA issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. EPA also announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is available to support lead pipe replacement and inventory projects. Together, these and other actions taken under the Biden-Harris Administration will help protect Americans from exposure to lead.
Background
Historically, EPA set the same standard for the level of lead found in dust from old paint that has to be reported and the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills and window troughs after a lead paint abatement occurs. This action decouples the two levels, which were last updated in 2019 and 2021, respectively. This is being done in accordance with a May 2021 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion, which explains that dust-lead reportable levels (previously called dust-lead hazard standards) must be based solely on health factors, while the dust-lead action levels (previously called dust-lead clearance levels) must consider the additional factors of safety, effectiveness and reliability. Today’s rule aligns both standards with the best available science, further strengthening EPA’s efforts to protect children from lead hazards.
EPA will host a public webinar to provide an overview of the rule on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET. Please use the registration link to register for this webinar.
Learn more about EPA’s dust-lead standards and the upcoming public webinar on this final rulemaking.
EPA Actions Protect Families and Children from Lead Exposure in New York and New Jersey
New York - EPA is observing Children’s Health Month and Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by highlighting actions taken over the past year to protect children from lead exposure in New York and New Jersey. EPA actions include three judicial enforcement cases and 15 administrative actions focusing on violations impacting people in communities that are traditionally underserved or overburdened. These cases cover violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) and Lead-Based Paint Activities (Abatement) Rules and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). EPA has worked in partnership with federal, state and local partners.
“Every family, regardless of their zip code, deserves to live without worrying about their child facing life-long health effects from exposure to lead pollution,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. “Together with federal and state partners, EPA is working to reduce the chance that any child’s life will be devastated and forever changed by toxic lead.”
Administrative and judicial settlements that resulted from EPA’s work enforcing the RRP rule cited violations including the failure to train workers, failure to assign a certified renovator to the renovation project, failure to follow lead-safe work practices and contain waste, failure to provide owners or occupants with required pre-renovation education about the risks of lead poisoning during the renovation, and records violations.
In September 2024, EPA issued an administrative consent agreement and final order to settle an administrative enforcement action against All City Remodeling, Inc. in Queens, NY, for violations of lead-based paint requirements. The settlement includes a $103,000 penalty for RRP Rule violations during renovations conducted in three properties in the traditionally underserved and overburdened communities of Washington Heights and Inwood in New York City.
In September 2024, Rose Demolition and Carting, a demolition contractor that performed demolitions at over 650 residential properties in New York City between 2016 and 2019, agreed via a proposed Judicial Consent Decree to comply with lead paint regulations and pay a $100,000 penalty for numerous violations of the RRP Rule. The penalty was based on their documented inability to pay the full civil penalty for which they would be liable. Many of the violations occurred in areas of New York City with low-income populations that are already disproportionately burdened by other environmental hazards.
In August 2024, Legacy Builders, a contractor that performed renovation work at hundreds of residential apartments in five different buildings in Manhattan, agreed to comply with lead paint regulations and to pay almost $170,000 for violations of several requirements of the RRP Rule. This penalty amount took into account their ability to pay.
In September 2023, Apex Building Company (Apex), a general contractor, agreed to comply with lead paint removal requirements and pay more than $600,000 in penalties for numerous violations EPA identified associated with renovation work in hundreds of apartment units between 2015 and 2021. The penalty amount took into account Apex’s ability to pay.
Examples of EPA’s work during the last year to enforce the requirements to protect people from lead in drinking water include issuing nine administrative orders to address violations such as failing to notify consumers of lead results, failing to sample at properly sited locations and failing to comply with lead service line replacement schedules. The total cost of complying with the nine orders is about $8.5 million, and the work will protect more than 300,000 consumers.
In Bellville, NJ, EPA issued an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) this September to the Town of Belleville to address violations to the Safe Drinking Water Act Lead and Copper Rule. The AOC requires the town to replace 770 lead service lines, implement a public notification program, sample after replacing lines, and start a flushing program.
EPA inspected four large water systems in Broome County, NY (Binghamton, Johnson City, Endicott and Vestal). One common finding for each water system was that they failed to collect lead and copper tap samples from proper locations. The proper siting of tap samples is critical as it serves as the basis for regulatory compliance. EPA issued Administrative Orders (AOs) to each municipality requiring them to prepare a tap sampling pool and new tap sample siting plan and monitor so compliance could be properly evaluated to ensure consumers are receiving safe drinking water.
In addition to proactive work EPA does in partnership with the states to enforce laws that protect people from lead, EPA Region 2 typically receives around 200 tips and referrals annually from concerned residents and local health departments flagging potential violations of lead-based paint regulations. Every tip is researched and investigated. If people suspect a violation, they can submit relevant information to EPA using the Report a Violation system and include as much information as possible.
Providers of training required for regulated renovation and lead abatement work must be accredited by EPA. The accreditation of providers and the training itself, in addition to being required by regulation, is very important for the safety of workers and occupants. During 2024, EPA Region 2 settled five cases with accredited trainers as part of a regional initiative to ensure the integrity of training providers in our region. When EPA inspects an accredited training provider, we look for compliance with curriculum and testing requirements, completion certificate requirements, notification and other record keeping requirements.
EPA also provides its own training through the Community Lead Awareness Initiative. The goal of this program is to reduce harm to children from exposure to lead in underrepresented and underserved communities whose populations are disproportionately affected by lead exposure. This effort is focused on educating both community leaders and members of the public about lead exposure and the importance of hiring lead-safe certified contractors.
Although there has been tremendous progress in lowering children’s blood lead levels across the U.S. in the past few decades, exposure to lead continues to pose a significant health and safety threat to children, preventing them from reaching the fullest potential of their health, their intellect, and their future. No level of lead is safe. Exposure to lead dust is the most common cause of lead poisoning and can lead to severe, irreversible health problems, particularly in children. Lead poisoning can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.
For more information about how EPA and its federal partners are protecting kids from lead, visit the federal lead action plan website. For more information about how people can protect their families, visit EPA’s website about how to reduce lead exposure.
Contractors can learn how to become properly certified on the EPA’s get certified website. To find accredited training, visit EPA’s renovator training website.
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“Every family, regardless of their zip code, deserves to live without worrying about their child facing life-long health effects from exposure to lead pollution,” said Lisa F. Garcia, EPA Regional Administrator. “Together with federal and state partners, EPA is working to reduce the chance that any child’s life will be devastated and forever changed by toxic lead.”
Administrative and judicial settlements that resulted from EPA’s work enforcing the RRP rule cited violations including the failure to train workers, failure to assign a certified renovator to the renovation project, failure to follow lead-safe work practices and contain waste, failure to provide owners or occupants with required pre-renovation education about the risks of lead poisoning during the renovation, and records violations.
In September 2024, EPA issued an administrative consent agreement and final order to settle an administrative enforcement action against All City Remodeling, Inc. in Queens, NY, for violations of lead-based paint requirements. The settlement includes a $103,000 penalty for RRP Rule violations during renovations conducted in three properties in the traditionally underserved and overburdened communities of Washington Heights and Inwood in New York City.
In September 2024, Rose Demolition and Carting, a demolition contractor that performed demolitions at over 650 residential properties in New York City between 2016 and 2019, agreed via a proposed Judicial Consent Decree to comply with lead paint regulations and pay a $100,000 penalty for numerous violations of the RRP Rule. The penalty was based on their documented inability to pay the full civil penalty for which they would be liable. Many of the violations occurred in areas of New York City with low-income populations that are already disproportionately burdened by other environmental hazards.
In August 2024, Legacy Builders, a contractor that performed renovation work at hundreds of residential apartments in five different buildings in Manhattan, agreed to comply with lead paint regulations and to pay almost $170,000 for violations of several requirements of the RRP Rule. This penalty amount took into account their ability to pay.
In September 2023, Apex Building Company (Apex), a general contractor, agreed to comply with lead paint removal requirements and pay more than $600,000 in penalties for numerous violations EPA identified associated with renovation work in hundreds of apartment units between 2015 and 2021. The penalty amount took into account Apex’s ability to pay.
Examples of EPA’s work during the last year to enforce the requirements to protect people from lead in drinking water include issuing nine administrative orders to address violations such as failing to notify consumers of lead results, failing to sample at properly sited locations and failing to comply with lead service line replacement schedules. The total cost of complying with the nine orders is about $8.5 million, and the work will protect more than 300,000 consumers.
In Bellville, NJ, EPA issued an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) this September to the Town of Belleville to address violations to the Safe Drinking Water Act Lead and Copper Rule. The AOC requires the town to replace 770 lead service lines, implement a public notification program, sample after replacing lines, and start a flushing program.
EPA inspected four large water systems in Broome County, NY (Binghamton, Johnson City, Endicott and Vestal). One common finding for each water system was that they failed to collect lead and copper tap samples from proper locations. The proper siting of tap samples is critical as it serves as the basis for regulatory compliance. EPA issued Administrative Orders (AOs) to each municipality requiring them to prepare a tap sampling pool and new tap sample siting plan and monitor so compliance could be properly evaluated to ensure consumers are receiving safe drinking water.
In addition to proactive work EPA does in partnership with the states to enforce laws that protect people from lead, EPA Region 2 typically receives around 200 tips and referrals annually from concerned residents and local health departments flagging potential violations of lead-based paint regulations. Every tip is researched and investigated. If people suspect a violation, they can submit relevant information to EPA using the Report a Violation system and include as much information as possible.
Providers of training required for regulated renovation and lead abatement work must be accredited by EPA. The accreditation of providers and the training itself, in addition to being required by regulation, is very important for the safety of workers and occupants. During 2024, EPA Region 2 settled five cases with accredited trainers as part of a regional initiative to ensure the integrity of training providers in our region. When EPA inspects an accredited training provider, we look for compliance with curriculum and testing requirements, completion certificate requirements, notification and other record keeping requirements.
EPA also provides its own training through the Community Lead Awareness Initiative. The goal of this program is to reduce harm to children from exposure to lead in underrepresented and underserved communities whose populations are disproportionately affected by lead exposure. This effort is focused on educating both community leaders and members of the public about lead exposure and the importance of hiring lead-safe certified contractors.
Although there has been tremendous progress in lowering children’s blood lead levels across the U.S. in the past few decades, exposure to lead continues to pose a significant health and safety threat to children, preventing them from reaching the fullest potential of their health, their intellect, and their future. No level of lead is safe. Exposure to lead dust is the most common cause of lead poisoning and can lead to severe, irreversible health problems, particularly in children. Lead poisoning can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.
For more information about how EPA and its federal partners are protecting kids from lead, visit the federal lead action plan website. For more information about how people can protect their families, visit EPA’s website about how to reduce lead exposure.
Contractors can learn how to become properly certified on the EPA’s get certified website. To find accredited training, visit EPA’s renovator training website.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $21 Million for Water Infrastructure in Nevada Through Investing in America Agenda
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe. Combined with $2.6 billion announced earlier this month, this $6.2 billion in investments for Fiscal Year 2025 will help communities across the country upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources, and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.
These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs to address key challenges in financing water infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes allotments for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds for Nevada ($12,216,000), Clean Water Emerging Contaminants funds ($1,054,000), and $7,921,000 under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminants Fund.
This funding is part of a five-year, $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history. To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that most of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities through grants or loans that do not have to be repaid.
“Access to clean drinking water and dependable wastewater infrastructure is fundamental to the quality of life for all people in Nevada and for all Americans,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “This investment, through unprecedented funding from the Biden-Harris Administration, will be instrumental in upgrading water infrastructure and supporting local jobs, economic resiliency, and long-term sustainability for communities throughout the Pacific Southwest.”
EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding. Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
To read stories about how unprecedented investments in water from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about additional projects, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
For more information, including the state-by-state allocation of 2025 funding and a breakdown of EPA SRF funding available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Clean Water State Revolving Fund website and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website. Additionally, the SRF Public Portal allows users to access data from the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs through interactive reports, dashboards, and maps.
The State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for over 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. SRF programs are critically important for investing in the nation’s water infrastructure. They are designed to generate significant, sustainable water quality and public health benefits nationwide. Their impact is amplified by the growth inherent in a revolving loan structure, in which principal and interest payments on loans become available to address future needs.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region on our Instagram, Facebook, X, and website.
These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs to address key challenges in financing water infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes allotments for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds for Nevada ($12,216,000), Clean Water Emerging Contaminants funds ($1,054,000), and $7,921,000 under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminants Fund.
This funding is part of a five-year, $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history. To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that most of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities through grants or loans that do not have to be repaid.
“Access to clean drinking water and dependable wastewater infrastructure is fundamental to the quality of life for all people in Nevada and for all Americans,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “This investment, through unprecedented funding from the Biden-Harris Administration, will be instrumental in upgrading water infrastructure and supporting local jobs, economic resiliency, and long-term sustainability for communities throughout the Pacific Southwest.”
EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding. Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
To read stories about how unprecedented investments in water from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about additional projects, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
For more information, including the state-by-state allocation of 2025 funding and a breakdown of EPA SRF funding available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Clean Water State Revolving Fund website and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website. Additionally, the SRF Public Portal allows users to access data from the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs through interactive reports, dashboards, and maps.
The State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for over 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. SRF programs are critically important for investing in the nation’s water infrastructure. They are designed to generate significant, sustainable water quality and public health benefits nationwide. Their impact is amplified by the growth inherent in a revolving loan structure, in which principal and interest payments on loans become available to address future needs.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region on our Instagram, Facebook, X, and website.
EPA Announces Over $132M for Water Infrastructure in Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe. Combined with $2.6 billion announced earlier this month, this $6.2 billion in investments for Fiscal Year 2025 will help communities across the country upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources, and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.
The BIL funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure.
Today’s announcement includes allotments to Pennsylvania of more than $98.5 million for Clean Water General Supplemental funds, over $8.5 million for Clean Water Emerging Contaminant funds, and over $25.2 million under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.
This funding is part of a five-year, $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the BIL – the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history. To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the BIL mandates that a majority of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid.
“Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges—from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”
“The Mid-Atlantic Region is home to some of the oldest water infrastructure in the country, which is why these once-in-a-generation investments are especially significant here,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The Biden-Harris Administration continues to put public health and the environment at the center of its agenda and the American people continue to benefit from leaders making safe water a priority.”
“Every Pennsylvanian has a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, and my Administration is driving out hundreds of millions of state and federal dollars to our local communities to support that goal and ensure families have safe, clean water when they turn on the faucet,” said Governor Josh Shapiro (PA). “Thanks to key investments from the Biden-Harris Administration, we’ve already helped replace over 30,000 lead service lines and created hundreds of good-paying union jobs across the Commonwealth – and this new investment will supercharge that work. Working together, across party lines and all levels of government, we’re continuing to get stuff done and deliver results for the good people of Pennsylvania.”
“I’m pleased to see another $132 million in federal funding coming to Pennsylvania through the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that I was proud to vote for!” said U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03).
"Access to clean, safe drinking water is fundamental to the health and well-being of our community. Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pennsylvania is receiving over $132 million, ensuring that our homes, businesses, and schools will have access to reliable, safe water for many years to come,” said U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). “Specifically, this investment will help modernize wastewater treatment facilities, improve stormwater management, and improve access to clean drinking water for the people of PA-06 and our Commonwealth."
“All Americans deserve access to safe and clean drinking water. I was proud to help pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law last Congress, and I am grateful for the impact this landmark legislation has already made in our community,” said U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07). “I’ll continue working to secure federal investments to keep the Greater Lehigh Valley healthy and improve our aging infrastructure.”
“This $132 million in federal funding coming to PA to upgrade our water infrastructure is a huge win for the people of PA-12, ensuring that families, schools, and businesses have access to safe, clean drinking water,” said U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12). “It’s about protecting our communities and our local environment by addressing the aging systems that so many of our neighbors rely on every single day. Safe and clean water is a fundamental right, and it's our responsibility to ensure that every family—no matter their zip code or income level—has access to it.”
Background
The EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding. Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The SRF programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than thirty years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. The 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, in which payments of principal and interest on loans become available to address future needs.
To read stories about how unprecedented investments in water from the BIL are transforming communities across the country, visit the EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about additional projects, see the EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
For more information, including the state-by-state allocation of 2025 funding and a breakdown of the EPA SRF funding available under the BIL, please visit the Clean Water SRF website and Drinking Water SRF website. Additionally, the SRF Public Portal allows users to access data from both the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs through interactive reports, dashboards, and maps.
The BIL funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure.
Today’s announcement includes allotments to Pennsylvania of more than $98.5 million for Clean Water General Supplemental funds, over $8.5 million for Clean Water Emerging Contaminant funds, and over $25.2 million under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.
This funding is part of a five-year, $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the BIL – the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history. To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the BIL mandates that a majority of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid.
“Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges—from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”
“The Mid-Atlantic Region is home to some of the oldest water infrastructure in the country, which is why these once-in-a-generation investments are especially significant here,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The Biden-Harris Administration continues to put public health and the environment at the center of its agenda and the American people continue to benefit from leaders making safe water a priority.”
“Every Pennsylvanian has a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, and my Administration is driving out hundreds of millions of state and federal dollars to our local communities to support that goal and ensure families have safe, clean water when they turn on the faucet,” said Governor Josh Shapiro (PA). “Thanks to key investments from the Biden-Harris Administration, we’ve already helped replace over 30,000 lead service lines and created hundreds of good-paying union jobs across the Commonwealth – and this new investment will supercharge that work. Working together, across party lines and all levels of government, we’re continuing to get stuff done and deliver results for the good people of Pennsylvania.”
“I’m pleased to see another $132 million in federal funding coming to Pennsylvania through the Biden-Harris administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that I was proud to vote for!” said U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03).
"Access to clean, safe drinking water is fundamental to the health and well-being of our community. Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pennsylvania is receiving over $132 million, ensuring that our homes, businesses, and schools will have access to reliable, safe water for many years to come,” said U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). “Specifically, this investment will help modernize wastewater treatment facilities, improve stormwater management, and improve access to clean drinking water for the people of PA-06 and our Commonwealth."
“All Americans deserve access to safe and clean drinking water. I was proud to help pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law last Congress, and I am grateful for the impact this landmark legislation has already made in our community,” said U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07). “I’ll continue working to secure federal investments to keep the Greater Lehigh Valley healthy and improve our aging infrastructure.”
“This $132 million in federal funding coming to PA to upgrade our water infrastructure is a huge win for the people of PA-12, ensuring that families, schools, and businesses have access to safe, clean drinking water,” said U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12). “It’s about protecting our communities and our local environment by addressing the aging systems that so many of our neighbors rely on every single day. Safe and clean water is a fundamental right, and it's our responsibility to ensure that every family—no matter their zip code or income level—has access to it.”
Background
The EPA is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing federal funding through its Water Technical Assistance program, which helps disadvantaged communities identify water challenges, develop infrastructure upgrade plans, and apply for funding. Communities seeking Water Technical Assistance can request support by completing the WaterTA request form. These efforts also advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
The SRF programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than thirty years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. The 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, in which payments of principal and interest on loans become available to address future needs.
To read stories about how unprecedented investments in water from the BIL are transforming communities across the country, visit the EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about additional projects, see the EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.
For more information, including the state-by-state allocation of 2025 funding and a breakdown of the EPA SRF funding available under the BIL, please visit the Clean Water SRF website and Drinking Water SRF website. Additionally, the SRF Public Portal allows users to access data from both the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs through interactive reports, dashboards, and maps.
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