Photo: EPA New England
CHELSEA, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with six Massachusetts cities to speed up the replacement of lead water pipes.
The announcement was made Friday at Chelsea City Hall, which is one of the participating cities, along with Fall River, Malden, Melrose, Revere and Taunton.
“There is no safe level of lead exposure,” EPA Chief of Staff Dan Utech said in a statement.
The partnership is part of the nationwide “Get the Lead Out" initiative, funded completely by the 2021 Infrastructure Law. The initiative aims to help towns across the socioeconomic spectrum get lead out of their drinking water, especially underserved communities, said María Belén Power from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Senator Ed Markey wants all lead pipes replaced in Massachusetts communities with old buildings.
"It's simple: every Massachusetts resident — regardless of their zip code — deserves access to safe, clean drinking water in their home, school, and place of work," Markey said in a statement.
Under the initiative, the EPA will help each town complete a number of steps, including identifying lead service pipes through historical archives, and going door-to-door to excavate the potential pipes. Many towns are also receiving support to create public events to educate the public about the mission.
Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez said he takes pride in the fact that his town was one of the first to adopt lead pipe replacement policies.
The EPA estimates there are still about 9 million lead service pipes across the country.
WBZ's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok