State Short Changed on Lead Line Funds

(CHICAGO) — It appears that Illinois is being short changed when it comes to federal dollars to replace lead water service lines.


The Chicago Tribune reports that Illinois and other states with the most lead service lines are getting far fewer federal dollars per line than those with far fewer toxic pipes. The paper found that Alaska, with 1,454 lead lines, and South Dakota, with 4,141, will get $19,704 and $6,919 per line respectively during the coming year.

Federal dollars headed to Illinois amount to $221 per lead service line. According to the Tribune, Michigan and Wisconsin are getting $241 and $238 a line.

The non-profit Environmental Defense Fund tells the paper that some of the numbers “just don’t make sense.”

Last year Congress set aside $15 billion to replace toxic lead pipes. There is no word on if the EPA will reassess the numbers.

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