CHICAGO, Il (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant collaboration with the city of Galion, Ohio, aiming to identify and replace lead pipes in the drinking water system. This initiative is part of the EPA’s Get the Lead Out Initiative, funded entirely by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The goal is to achieve 100% lead service line replacement nationwide.

Lead in drinking water can cause serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to brain development in children. To protect children and families, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests a historic $15 billion to replace lead pipes and deliver clean water. The technical assistance provided through the Get the Lead Out initiative will help ensure that no community is left behind in the opportunity to replace lead pipes.

Under the Get the Lead Out initiative, EPA will support the city of Galion with some critical first steps to lead pipe replacement including identifying lead pipes and educating the public about lead pipes. As a result of these efforts, the city of Galion will move quickly towards President Biden’s goal of 100% lead-free pipes.

Under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, all public water utilities are required to prepare and maintain an inventory of service line materials by October 16, 2024, or sooner if required by the state agency. Communities wishing to receive assistance with lead service line replacement can request assistance by completing the WaterTA request form on EPA’s WaterTA website.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed in 2021, provided a historic $50 billion investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, dedicating more than $15 billion to replacing lead service lines. EPA is committed to ensuring every community, particularly underserved and disadvantaged communities, can access its fair share of this unprecedented investment through a robust portfolio of water technical assistance programs, such as the Get the Lead Out initiative.

Galion residents have received a form related to this in their utility bills, or they can visit the city website for information about the program.