United States faces lead pipe problem | News, Sports, Jobs

“Your tap water can hang around in pretty, shabby joints” is the message near the containers of a brand of bottled water sold by certain stores in the region.

Accompanying this post and, of course, the water containers for sale is an image illustrating an example of the deteriorating condition the company is trying to draw attention to.

Many people look at the picture, say “Yuck,” then move on. However, some people might consider opting for the alternative to bottled water rather than continuing to depend on drinking tap water from which they have drunk as long as they have lived at their current address.

Based on the latest statistics, the Biden administration’s proposals and the resulting debate in Congress, “Shabby joints” and the aging and deteriorated lead pipes that carry water into the homes of many people should be on most Americans’ minds right now.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are 9 million lead service lines in this country. Meanwhile, the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council recently estimated that the correct number of lead service lines is around 12.8 million.

Funding for the replacement plan proposed by the Biden administration envisions a combination of grants and loans, recognizing that the giant task would take decades to accomplish. What cannot be ignored is that the longer the replacement project is underway, the more the total cost will exceed $ 45 billion.

Although many Americans do not view lead pipes as a tangible health risk, while still living with lead-based paint and asbestos in their homes, the continued deterioration of connected lead pipes does. shouldn’t be poop nationwide.

Elected officials should not shy away from the issue and residents of municipalities that use public water should not hesitate to question their elected officials on the state of the infrastructure delivering this vital element to their homes and businesses.

They should use this new knowledge as a basis to support or oppose what the president is advocating – at least the cost of what is proposed.

There is no doubt that the proposed scope of the anti-lead pipe initiative would boost the economy and many jobs, but the health of Americans is the much more important consideration that needs to be taken into account. to shape opinions.