EPA Finalizes Lead Pipe Rule, Requires Cataloging and Nationwide Removal Within 10 Years

[iluvatar5150]

https://wapo.st/3BxQFLb

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule Tuesday requiring water utilities to replace all lead pipes within a decade, a move aimed at eliminating a toxic threat that continues to affect tens of thousands of American children each year.​

​

The move, which also tightens the amount of lead allowed in the nation’s drinking water, comes nearly 40 years after Congress determined that lead pipes posed a serious risk to public health and banned them in new construction.​

 

[Nithavela]

This is just embarassing.

 

[Arcangl86]

How long do we think before the lawsuit pausing the rule?

 

[durangodawood]

Expensive. But needs to happen.

 

[Paulos23]

How long do we think before the lawsuit pausing the rule?

As soon as some landlord figures out the cost of this.

 

[Arcangl86]

Expensive. But needs to happen.

I read an article that says that it would probably cost about $20-30B and about $15 is available through the IIJA, which means that customers are going to have to eat a large cost to get this done.

 

[Arcangl86]

As soon as some landlord figures out the cost of this.

So my understanding is that this only effects water mains. Pipes going into houses, and in houses, will not be affected.

 

[durangodawood]

So my understanding is that this only effects water mains. Pipes going into houses, and in houses, will not be affected.

Reporting indicates water service line to houses are included in this rule.

 

[Nithavela]

I read an article that says that it would probably cost about $20-30B and about $15 is available through the IIJA, which means that customers are going to have to eat a large cost to get this done.

Eat costs or drink lead. Decisions, decisions...

 

[iluvatar5150]

How long do we think before the lawsuit pausing the rule?

looks at watch

I assume it's already been filed.

 

[Arcangl86]

Eat costs or drink lead. Decisions, decisions...

Oh I think it's a good thing that pipes are being released, but remember that lead service lines are more common in poor/minority neighborhoods. This is going to be a real burden on some of those households, because of course the utilities are going to pass the costs down.

 

[durangodawood]

looks at watch

I assume it's already been filed.

I do wonder where the EPA gets its authority to make rules for a domain that really cant be called "interstate commerce" by any stretch.

 

[Arcangl86]

I do wonder where the EPA gets its authority to make rules for a domain that really cant be called "interstate commerce" by any stretch.

The Clean Water Act, though that act was passed before the court regularly started overturning Commerce Clause cases. I suspect if pressed the government would say that it falls under the Commerce Clause because it has a substantial effect on interstate commerce, because people won't be able to travel if they don't know if they will have safe access to water.

 

[Bradskii]

https://wapo.st/3BxQFLb

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule Tuesday requiring water utilities to replace all lead pipes within a decade, a move aimed at eliminating a toxic threat that continues to affect tens of thousands of American children each year.​

​

The move, which also tightens the amount of lead allowed in the nation’s drinking water, comes nearly 40 years after Congress determined that lead pipes posed a serious risk to public health and banned them in new construction.​

You still have lead pipes? What the..?

 

[Nithavela]

You still have lead pipes? What the..?

Probably because of some lobbying by the bottled water industry...

 

[iluvatar5150]

You still have lead pipes? What the..?

We didn't stop using lead service lines until the 80's.

 

[Matt5]

The Clean Water Act, though that act was passed before the court regularly started overturning Commerce Clause cases. I suspect if pressed the government would say that it falls under the Commerce Clause because it has a substantial effect on interstate commerce, because people won't be able to travel if they don't know if they will have safe access to water.

Under what authority does the EPA have to regulate this? Well, there is the Safe Water Drinking Act of 1974 where Congress gave the EPA the authority. Except, Congress doesn't have the authority here because drinking water doesn't cross state lines.

I asked Microsoft Copilot about the legality of the SWDA. Answer: Regulation of interstate commerce and the protection of public health gives Congress the authority. Both are indirectly affected by drinking water.

Public health within a state indirectly affects other states as people travel and move.

 

[Larniavc]

https://wapo.st/3BxQFLb

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule Tuesday requiring water utilities to replace all lead pipes within a decade, a move aimed at eliminating a toxic threat that continues to affect tens of thousands of American children each year.​

​

The move, which also tightens the amount of lead allowed in the nation’s drinking water, comes nearly 40 years after Congress determined that lead pipes posed a serious risk to public health and banned them in new construction.​

Wait; you have lead pipes for water?

America really hates Americans.

 

[Arcangl86]

Wait; you have lead pipes for water?

America really hates Americans.

Lead was considered the golden standard because it was both tough and malleable. We didn't really know about the poisonous aspect for a while. We also used lead in paint for a long time.

 

[Larniavc]

Lead was considered the golden standard because it was both tough and malleable. We didn't really know about the poisonous aspect for a while. We also used lead in paint for a long time.

Crikey. Lead was phased out and banned by law in the UK by 1970 because it was poisonous. Is that really not the case in America?