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Projected lead service lines in the United States. (Casey Chin / Earthjustice. Data: EPA)
feature April 11, 2025

Attacks on Lead Protections Threaten Nation’s Drinking Water

The Trump administration and certain members of Congress are trying to roll back protections for lead in drinking water. But there are ways to fight back.

In the News: Inside Climate News February 13, 2025

An EPA Rule Will Reduce Lead in Drinking Water—Unless This Effort to Block It Succeeds

Julian Gonzalez, Senior Legislative Counsel, Policy & Legislation Team: “You’re going from a much stronger [drinking water] regulation to a weaker one and as a result, lots and lots of children and adults and fetuses are all going to be threatened with really irreversible health harms.”

A lead pipe is shown after being replaced by a copper water supply line to a home in Flint, Mich., July 20, 2018. The Environmental Protection Agency will soon strengthen lead in drinking water regulations. (Paul Sancya / AP)
Update January 23, 2025

Congress Wants to Gut Protections Against Lead. We’ll Fight Back.

We’ve come too far on strengthening lead protections to back down. Communities drinking contaminated water because of lead pipes should not have to wait decades for help.

document December 20, 2024

Motion to Intervene: National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvements

Motion of Newburgh Clean Water Project, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Sierra Club to intervene in support of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the challenge to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvements.

A cut lead pipe is pulled from a dig site for testing at a home in Royal Oak, Mich., on Nov. 16, 2021. (Carlos Osorio / AP)
Press Release December 20, 2024

Groups Seek to Defend Lead Pipe Rule Challenged by Water Utilities

Lead service lines contaminate drinking water across the country and must be replaced now

Children in Flint, Michigan, have been poisoned by lead in the city's tap water.
(Ceyhun (Jay) Isik/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
case October 15, 2024

Lead and Copper Rule: Protecting Communities from Lead in Drinking Water

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements rule requires the proactive replacement of most lead service lines nationwide within the next 10 years, improves sampling methods to more accurately measure lead levels, and will force more water systems to take immediate action to address lead contamination.

Workmen prepare to replace old water pipes with new copper pipes in Newark, New Jersey in 2021. The city replaced nearly all of its 23,000 lead service lines with new copper pipes. (Seth Wenig / AP)
Article October 9, 2024

Toxic Lead Is Still Contaminating Our Drinking Water, But Change Is Coming

After years of advocacy by Earthjustice and our partners, a newly updated EPA rule requires almost all lead pipes in the U.S. to be replaced within a decade.

(Peter Cade / Getty Images)
Press Release: Victory October 8, 2024

EPA Revela Histórica Norma para Eliminar el Plomo del Agua Potable

Las Mejoras en el Plomo y Cobre exigen que las líneas de servicio se reemplacen por completo en un plazo de 10 años

A child fills a drinking glass with water from the faucet. (Cavan Images)
Press Release: Victory October 8, 2024

Updated EPA Rule Requires Replacement of Lead Service Lines in 10 Years

Lead and Copper Rule improvements are a critical tool for safeguarding our drinking water

In the News: Kenosha News February 16, 2024

In race to prevent lead in our drinking water, who is being left behind?

Suzanne Novak, Attorney, Northeast Office: “If we don’t prohibit charging a customer, we may very well end up with a two-tiered system, where wealthier communities, which are disproportionately white, will have more of their lead service lines replaced than in other communities.”

document February 5, 2024

Comments on Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Rule

Earthjustice comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements rule.

Stanley tumblers are seen for sale at a store in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (Eric Risberg / AP)
Article February 1, 2024

Worry About Lead in Your Drinking Water, But Not From Stanley Cups

The trendy water bottles have raised concerns about lead poisoning. While experts say the cups are safe, here’s where lead exposure is a problem in our lives and what we can do about it.

Workers with East Bay Municipal Utility District install new water pipe on April 22, 2021, in Walnut Creek, California.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
Update January 18, 2024

We’re Fighting to Keep Lead Out of Homes, Childcare Facilities, and Drinking Water. Here’s How You Can Help.

Tell the government we need bold solutions to protect millions of people from lead.

Lead-based paint disintegrates over time and contaminates dust throughout homes or schools; lead in soil around these buildings also leads to children’s exposure. (M.R. / CC BY-ND 2.0)
From the Experts October 10, 2023

Lead poisoning prevention: Are we on the right track?

As we approach lead poisoning prevention week Oct. 22-28, developments are promising despite some stumbling blocks.

The report, "No Excuses, NYC: Replace Lead Drinking Water Pipes Now," estimates that one in five New Yorkers may be drinking water transported through lead service lines.
Press Release July 18, 2023

Report: An Estimated One in Five New Yorkers May Be Drinking Water from Lead Service Lines

Staggering borough and neighborhood lead line data show urgency to act

Press Release January 27, 2023

Earthjustice Applauds Formation of White House and EPA Lead Service Line Replacement Partnership

As many as 22 million people drink water from lead

Press Release December 9, 2022

EPA to Reconsider Stronger Rules for Lead in Drinking Water

Agency asks court to allow revisions and new rulemaking for the Lead and Copper Rule

document December 9, 2022

Opening Brief – LCR Challenge, UPAL et al

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a court motion for remand to revisit and reassess the revisions it made to the Lead and Copper Rule during the Trump Administration. The Lead and Copper rule, or LCR, regulates the control and monitoring of lead in drinking water. The EPA is asking for the remand in response to a challenge brought by Earthjustice a on behalf of civil rights and environmental groups, for not protecting children’s health and the safety of the drinking water that millions of people living in the United States rely on. There were additional challenges filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and 9 state Attorneys General and the District of Columbia.