Article Summary –
The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 allocated $15 billion over five years for lead service line identification and replacement nationwide, with Wisconsin receiving $101 million in 2025 and expecting similar funding in 2026. Milwaukee, Racine, and Wausau have made significant progress in replacing lead pipes due to this funding, dramatically reducing the time needed to achieve their goals. Richard Diaz and local leaders emphasize the urgent need for continued funding to prevent another generation from suffering lead poisoning, arguing that grants rather than loans should be emphasized to avoid increasing water costs for consumers.
If federal lawmakers do not extend Biden-era funding for lead pipe replacement, Wisconsin communities will face setbacks in eliminating this health hazard.
The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $15 billion over five years for lead service line replacement nationwide.
Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources applied for funding for fiscal years 2022-2026, securing $101 million in 2025. It anticipates similar funding in 2026. Previously, the state received additional unused funds.
These investments are crucial for Wisconsin’s safety, according to Richard Diaz of the BlueGreen Alliance, who directed a documentary on the federal aid’s impact on lead pipe removal.
Lead exposure poses risks such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and neurological issues. Even minimal lead levels are dangerous for children, potentially affecting IQ and attention span.
“It’s like their little brains are on fire,” explains Lisa Chowdhury, a pediatrician at Children’s Wisconsin, in the film. “Lead damage is permanent. More blood tests and medication won’t reverse it.”
Diaz, who attended Milwaukee Public Schools, highlighted the district’s struggle with lead issues in nearly 100 schools last year.
Leading the Coalition on Lead Emergency since 2018, Diaz noted that Milwaukee’s north side accounts for almost half of Wisconsin’s lead poisoning cases.
Other Wisconsin communities have reported using funds from the state’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program, which utilizes 2021 federal law allocations.
Diaz advocates for grants over loans to prevent water rate increases amid other rising costs. Continued federal funding is essential to protect future generations from lead poisoning.
“We’ve made progress these past years,” Diaz stressed. “We need to finish the job.”
City leaders show progress after federal funding
The documentary, “The Fight for Progress: Wisconsin’s Push for Lead Pipe Replacement,” highlights efforts in Racine, Wausau, and Milwaukee.
Racine Mayor Cory Mason states that without extended funding, it will take decades to replace 10,000 lead pipes. Under current law, the city could meet its targets in five to six years instead of 30.
“There’s no redo for kids’ childhood,” says Mason. “Safe drinking water requires real resources, and we can’t sacrifice another generation over budget debates in Washington.”
In Wausau, Community Infrastructure Partners’ president Shawn Kerachsky plans to replace 1,500 lines this year, with a five-year citywide completion goal.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee Water Works Superintendent Patrick Pauly credit the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with enabling the city to triple its annual replacement rate, addressing about half of Wisconsin’s lead lines.
“We wouldn’t have achieved this without BIL funding,” affirms Pauly in the documentary.
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