Federal plan to get lead out of drinking water will benefit Massachusetts communities

BOSTON — Safe drinking water is something most people take for granted. We just turn on the faucet and there it is.

However, it is often tainted with lead which can be particularly dangerous for children even in trace amounts.

The federal government will be rolling out a new plan to get the lead out of public water supplies.

“I am a mother and I’m deeply concerned about my children lead infiltrated and contaminated water,” said Staci Rubin, a Malden mother of two.

“Malden is one of the municipalities that has the largest amount of lead service lines around the Commonwealth,” added Rubin.

Service lines are the pipes that connect individual buildings like houses, schools, and apartment complexes to a municipal water supply.

In Massachusetts, many of those pipes were pub underground decades ago when using lead in building materials was standard practice.

Now that the infrastructure bill is signed, Congressman Jake Auchincloss of Newton says much needed help to replace them is on the way.

“Massachusetts was a pioneer in this nation for subsurface water infrastructure, but that means our pipes are old,” explained Auchincloss. “This bill guarantees that every leaded pipe in this country is de-leaded. No kid will be drinking water laced with lead.”

Public health officials say that will be a good thing.

Children are particularly vulnerable to adverse health reactions from lead, including damage to the nervous system, developmental delays, and hearing and speech impairments.

“There is no safe level of lead,” said Elizabeth Saunders, Director of Clean Water Action. She says $15 billion is allocated to remove the pipes.

“The federal dollars are going to really provide an opportunity for communities that been eager to get rid of those lead service lines . . . to do that without increasing water bills,” added Saunders.

In Malden, where it’s estimated a quarter of the service lines contain lead, Rubin is concerned the money might run out fast, especially when considering what it might cost to remove the pipes from just one house.

“It’s a large cost,” said Rubin. “We were told somewhere between $3,000-$7,000 for our street.”

Still, Rubin believes that’s a bargain when considering the alternative. “Making sure we have clean water is critical. It’s a human right’s issue. We have enough contaminants. Water shouldn’t be one of them.”

The Biden administration estimates up to 10 million households nationally get their water thru lead-tainted pipes. A disproportionate number of those homes are in economically challenged neighborhoods.

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