10-16-2024 2:55am

$25 Million Awarded to New Mexico to Address Lead and Copper Pipe Replacement

Chris Edwards Editor

The Biden-Harris Administration this week issued new regulations requiring drinking water systems nationwide to locate and replace lead pipes within a decade, a mandate that will affect hundreds of New Mexican water systems.

In support of this mandate, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is allocating approximately $24,898,000 in new funding for New Mexico's drinking water infrastructure to pay for lead pipe inventory and replacement projects. These funds come in the form of loans, subsidies, and grants, with at least 49% allocated to underprivileged communities in the form of grants or principal forgiveness not requiring repayment.

The fresh funds are in addition to hundreds of millions of dollars NMED already offers to help build up water infrastructure systems throughout New Mexico. NMED spent about $78 million on water projects in fiscal year 2024, a sign of the agency’s commitment to helping water systems get back into compliance and serve safe drinking water to their customers.

Approximately 700 New Mexico water systems are affected by the new EPA rule. Communities and water systems must apply for these funds through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law via New Mexico’s Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. They are administered through the New Mexico Finance Authority, with the New Mexico Environment Department assisting community water systems to qualify for the funding.

More information regarding applying can be found on the NMED website.

“Starting today, drinking water systems can take advantage of these funds to remove metals like lead and copper from their drinking water,” said New Mexico Environment Secretary, James Kenney. “With record levels of federal water infrastructure dollars flowing into our state, safe and reliable drinking water is within reach of every utility in our state.”

Lead is a potent neurotoxin and there is no safe level of lead exposure, particularly for children. In children, lead can severely harm mental and physical development, slow down learning and irreversibly damage the brain. In adults, can lead cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer. If someone is impacted by lead exposure, there is no known antidote.

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) mandate more stringent testing protocols for drinking water and establish a reduced threshold for communities to address lead presence in drinking water — thereby safeguarding individuals from harmful exposure.

This definitive regulation also enhances communication within communities, ensuring that families are comprehensively informed about the potential risks associated with lead in drinking water, the identification of lead pipes, and the strategies for their replacement.