WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania is getting $265.9 million in federal funding to upgrade the state’s aging drinking water infrastructure.
- Pennsylvania is getting $265.9 million from the EPA
- The money is earmarked for improvements to the state's aging water infrastructure
- Pennsylvania ranks 4th in the country for the most lead pipes, according to a recent EPA survey
Announced Wednesday by officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the money is part of a $6.5 billion infusion for states, tribes and territories across the United States for essential drinking water infrastructure upgrades through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, part of President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Thanks to the infrastructure law, Pennsylvania will receive more than $265 million to make our drinking water safer and cleaner, including significant boosts in funding to eradicate ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS and replace lead pipes,” U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said.
“Every Pennsylvanian has the right to safe, pure water and I will keep working with the Biden Administration until that promise is a reality in our urban, suburban and rural communities alike."
Ongoing issue for the Lehigh Valley
The commonwealth ranks fourth out of all U.S. states for the most lead pipes, according to the EPA’s “7th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment,” the results of which were released Tuesday. Only Florida, Illinois and Ohio ranked higher.
Pennsylvania has about 689,000 lead service lines, making up 7.5% of all service lines in the commonwealth, according to results of the EPA's survey.
“These historic investments will help communities in Pennsylvania resolve decades-long problems that threaten the safety of their drinking water." <br/>EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz
Lead poisoning and contamination, which has been found to cause permanent, disabling health effects, is an ongoing issue in the Lehigh Valley.
Last month, the EPA announced a proposal to set nationwide maximum levels of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” allowable in public drinking water.
It was about three months after Pennsylvania adopted new regulations, but the EPA’s are almost four times lower.
With state and federal agencies at odds over the acceptable levels, it’s become an expensive and frustrating process for Emmaus officials, who estimate it could cost the borough upwards of $12 million if all four of its wells need to be mitigated.
“These historic investments will help communities in Pennsylvania resolve decades-long problems that threaten the safety of their drinking water,” EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz said in a news release announcing the funding.
“Ensuring that the most vulnerable communities benefit from this funding is critical for protecting their health, making them resilient to the effects of climate change, and growing their local economies.”
