BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 6, 2021
In America, up to 10 million homes are believed to have lead water pipes. Take away the lead pipe, and the lead rapidly disappears from the water. America’s small towns could get left behind. Every state government could establish statewide contracts with intermediary businesses that specialize in working across communities to deliver small construction projects. Another shortcut needed to accelerate lead pipe removal is the use of contracts that pay a fixed price only after work is completed. Thousands of local plumbers have firsthand knowledge of the location of lead pipes. Money shouldn’t only go to large construction and engineering firms. Lastly, EPA could also speed up pipe removal by clarifying that new funding can be used to retroactively pay for any documented lead pipe replaced since the infrastructure law passed. ~ Timothy Male, Environmental Policy Innovation Center