A new Environmental Protection Agency rule means New York and other states will have just over ten years to remove all lead service lines. The Lead and Copper Improvements Rule requires more rigorous testing of drinking water. New York has more than 449-thousand lead service lines to remove, at a cost of around 2-and-a-half-billion dollars, but it’s not clear how it will be paid for. Other major challenges include dealing with older infrastructure and ensuring water is properly filtered once the pipes are replaced. Valerie Baron with the Natural Resources Defense Council says climate change will affect this work…
Assemblyman Chris Eachus of the 99th District, covering Stony Point and parts of Orange County, says the city of Newburgh in Orange County, for example, needs a lot of help…
If municipalities can’t make the 2037 deadline, they can appeal to the state for a deferral – but only if they can prove the deferrals are necessary.