Illinois lawmakers press EPA over stalled lead-pipe funding

Lead pipes are ubiquitous. At this point, no state has gotten rid of all of its toxic lead water pipes, which carry drinking water to homes and businesses. But some cities like Chicago, New York and Detroit have more lead plumbing than others, and replacing them can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, the Biden-era infrastructure bill, promised $15 billion for lead pipe replacement across the country, to be disbursed over five years.

But in a letter sent earlier this week to the Environmental Protection Agency, a group of Illinois congressional delegates say the $3 billion allocated to replace lead pipes nationwide for the fiscal year ending in September has not yet reached communities. They warn that the delay constitutes “dangerous politicization” that puts children and families at risk.

“Federal resources are not partisan tools – they are vital lifelines intended to serve all Americans,” the letter notes. “Using federal funds as leverage against communities based on political considerations represents a dangerous abuse of power that undermines public trust and puts lives at risk. »

The move comes as communities in Illinois, which is among the top five states with the highest number of lead service lines, and across the country grapple with the crushing cost of removing dangerous metal pipes from water systems. The Trump administration has already withheld funding from Congress for infrastructure and energy projects in Democratic-led states like New York, Colorado, Minnesota, New York and Massachusetts. Now, lawmakers worry that money intended for lead pipes may also be blocked in Washington.

“I think they’re playing games,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, one of the lawmakers who led the effort to send the letter. “It feels like it’s targeting blue states or blue cities that might need more mitigation than other parts of the country.”

Lead is toxic and dangerous to human health. Lead plumbing can flake and dissolve in drinking water, which can lead to brain damage, cardiovascular problems, and reproductive problems. The EPA says there is no safe level of lead exposure.

A spokesperson for the federal agency said it was “actively working” on allocations for replacing lead service lines. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, responsible for disbursing federal funds to local governments, did not respond to a request for comment. The Chicago Department of Water Management said it received $14 million from the Illinois EPA for fiscal year 2025 and received $28 million for the next fiscal year.

“The estimated replacement cost for the Chicago area alone is $12 billion or more, and for the entire state it could be as much as $14 billion,” Krishnamoorthi said. “The money that would be given to Chicago would not be enough to do all the work, but the federal component is essential to start the process. »

Chicago has more than 412,000 lead service lines, the most of any city in the country. So far, the city has replaced about 14,000 lead pipes over the past five years, at a cost of $400 million. This is partly due to the high cost of replacing lead pipes. In Chicago, replacing a single lead pipe can cost an average of $35,000. Federal rules require Chicago to replace all of its pipes by 2047, but city officials have raised concerns about the unfunded federal mandate.

“It’s impacting people’s health,” said Chakena Sims, a senior policy advocate with the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The federal government’s policy on access to drinking water is at an unprecedented level,” she added. “It’s encouraging to see our Illinois congressional leaders standing up for communities.”