The EPA estimates there are about 4 million lead pipes that pose a possible threat to drinking water—less than half the agency’s previous tally of 9 million pipes.
The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday updated its estimate of lead service lines needing replacement based on inventories that states submitted to the EPA.
The agency released the downgraded estimate as it announced it’s injecting $3 billion into state efforts to replace lead pipes through the EPA’s Drinking Water and Clean Water state revolving funds, which provide loans and grants to states to upgrade water infrastructure.
The money will be distributed to ...