On Tuesday, the EPA announced new federal funding to eliminate toxic materials in drinking water pipes: all pipes containing lead must be replaced within the next decade. This comes with significant federal funding, and Oregon was awarded $28 million.
Some 9 million homes around the country contain lead pipes, although the substance was banned in the 1980s due to the health risks associated with toxic metal leeching into the water. Nowadays, it is common scientific knowledge that lead is a neurotoxin and has been overwhelmingly linked to health problems such as brain damage, heart disease, cancer, and more. The science is clear: plastic pipes are a better way to deliver drinking water safely.
So, what does all this mean for your Oregon home? If your home was built before 1986, your pipes may be tested, and replaced within the next decade using the federally-awarded funding for Oregon. The good news is that if your home is connected to the water main, the costs of replacing the pipes will not fall on you, and officials will be responsible for the replacement. However, if you obtain your water from a private well, the cost falls on you to make sure your drinking water is safe and replace your pipes! The EPA provides testing guidelines here.
Stay tuned, because the plans for replacement and costs are still being drafted with the new funding just being allocated, so the programs are not yet fully formed.
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