Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed $32.8 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help identify and replace lead service lines and improve water quality in Colorado. This investment from the ??EPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“No parent in America should have to worry about the water their kids drink from the tap,” said Bennet. “This investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is an important step forward to help communities across Colorado replace harmful lead pipes without placing additional financial burdens on homeowners and small businesses. Communities in every corner of the country should have access to clean drinking water.”
“Every Coloradan deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Hickenlooper. “These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments will help replace lead pipes and deliver cleaner water to communities across Colorado!”
EPA projects that 9 million homes in the U.S. currently have lead water pipes – also known as lead service lines – that connect the main water line located underground to their home’s internal plumbing system. Lead can cause serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. Many vulnerable communities facing water challenges have historically received insufficient federal water infrastructure funding.
Although federal investments like this one are helping public utilities across the country replace publicly-owned lead service lines, replacement projects have moved slowly for privately-owned pipes serving residences due to the costly financial responsibility of replacing these lines. In March 2023, Bennet introduced the Financing Lead Out of Water (FLOW) Act to make it easier for cities and utilities to issue tax-exempt bonds to finance replacement projects.