Washington must act.
Communities need support to Protect Kids From Lead
Increase federal funding for lead pipe replacement
We need more federal funding to help communities remove lead from their water.
Protect Kids from Lead supports the $15 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities find and replace lead pipes through the EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). This historic investment will help many communities begin to solve their lead problems.
Unfortunately, we need much more funding. Based on cost estimates from the EPA it would take around $45 billion to replace all of our lead pipes. The real cost is likely to be far higher when considering the expenses of identifying lead pipes, getting the word out to the public, and dealing with rising costs from inflation - some experts project a cost of at least $90 billion.
Protect Kids from Lead is advocating for increased and sustained federal funding to solve this problem. Our communities need a strong and reliable partner in the federal government to put public health protections in place and remove lead for good.
Interim protections while replacement Is underway.
Replacing lead service lines is critical — but it won’t happen overnight. With millions of lead pipes still delivering drinking water to homes across the country, the Protect Kids from Lead Coalition is committed to ensuring that families have the tools and information they need to stay safe in the meantime.
Why interim protections matter.
Even a short delay in addressing lead exposure can have lasting consequences for young children, whose developing brains and bodies are most vulnerable to harm. That’s why we advocate for practical, science-based interim measures to reduce exposure while full replacement efforts move forward.
What we support.
The Coalition encourages communities and policymakers to adopt the following interim protections:
Certified Filter Distribution: We support distributing NSF/ANSI-certified pitcher filters to households affected by lead pipes, with a focus on homes with pregnant individuals, infants, and young children.
Clear and Transparent Communication: Residents should be notified quickly and clearly if their water system contains lead, and provided with easy-to-understand instructions on how to reduce exposure.
Public Education Campaigns: Awareness saves lives. We work with local leaders and health advocates to ensure families know how to use filters correctly, flush pipes, and identify potential sources of lead in their home plumbing.
These common-sense strategies can make a major difference — especially in communities with limited resources or higher burdens of environmental injustice.
Resources for families.
EPA has provided clear recommendations for how individuals can protect themselves while waiting for lead service line replacement. You can find those steps here: How to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Lead in Drinking Water – EPA.