WASHINGTON – Iowa will receive over $30 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) supported in 2021, to identify and replace lead service lines.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will administer the grant through its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
“Every Iowan should have access to clean, safe drinking water. These federal dollars will help our communities and ensure water coming out of the faucet is lead-free,” Grassley said. “I supported the bipartisan infrastructure bill with the health and safety of Iowans in mind, and I’m glad to see this investment continue to benefit our great state.”
Iowa has 64,230 service lines containing lead and 270,978 services lines of unknown material, according to a recent EPA report. Lead exposure can cause a range of serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease, decreased kidney function and irreversible neurological damage in children.
Thanks to Senator Grassley working with Democrats in Congress and Joe Biden’s signature, this law will clean up tainted water pipes in Iowa. All of Iowa’s Republican Congress members, including Rep. Ashley Hinson, opposed this bill. Also against the bill was Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who mercilessly fought against it.
The EPA earlier announced funding toward President Biden’s commitment to replace every lead pipe in the nation, protecting public health and helping to deliver safe drinking water. The EPA also released a guidance that clarifies how states can use this and other funding to most effectively reduce exposure to lead in drinking water and has developed new outreach documents.
