Detroit Evening Report: State receives over $60M from EPA to replace lead water pipes
Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” podcast.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has allotted $61.9 million to the state of Michigan for lead water service line removal projects.
Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
Lead is a neurotoxin that can irreversibly harm brain development in children, and it can also accumulate in the bones and teeth, damage the kidneys, and interfere with the production of red blood cells needed to carry oxygen. Due to decades of inequitable infrastructure development and underinvestment, lead poisoning disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color.
This week, the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council gave Michigan an “A” grade in incorporating equity into administering state water infrastructure funds and overall effectiveness of administering funds.
“Governor Whitmer and I are working hard to ensure Michiganders know their water is safe,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, in a news release announcing the funding. “We’ve invested hundreds of millions to protect the quality of drinking water, upgrade water infrastructure, and replace lead service lines in communities across Michigan. We also established the strongest lead and copper rules for drinking water in the country.”
Gilchrist says the federal funds will provide crucial support as work continues to replace lead lines and protect drinking water for Michigan families.
The funding will be facilitated by Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy.
Other headlines for Friday, May 3, 2024:
- Dreamz Two Reality, an independent recruiting platform for student athletes in Michigan, will host its first All-American basketball game at 4 p.m. this Saturday, May 4, at Detroit Catholic Central High School in Novi.
- May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and to mark the occasion, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson launched the Michigan Department of State’s annual “Look Twice, Save a Life” public education campaign.
- The Detroit Reparation Task Force is hosting a public session from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at the Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Drive, Detroit. Residents can also participate via Zoom.
- If you are an older adult age 65 and older or you have a disability, you might be eligible to sign up for the city of Detroit’s free automated shuttle service, Detroit ADS, or Automated Driving System.
Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
