Aqua joins EPA, Public Officials to highlight lead and galvanized replacement program benefiting customers in Pennsylvania
Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca joined leaders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and federal and local officials to highlight the importance of identifying and replacing lead and galvanized service lines in Pennsylvania.
Officials gathered in West Chester, Pennsylvania to celebrate over $4 million being invested by Aqua throughout parts of Chester County. The loan, administered by PENNVEST, is from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund which has received substantial funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As part of the celebration, officials were able to see first-hand the removal and replacement of a residential lead service line.
“We’re proud to be at the forefront of this game-changing project for our customers and we remain committed to using our expertise to get the Lead out across Pennsylvania,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “This important work proves we’re always ready and willing to take the extra step to protect our customers. I’d like to thank PENNVEST for its partnership on this project and so many others.”
Despite their installation being banned nearly 40 years ago, there are still an estimated 9.2 million legacy lead service lines delivering water in cities and towns across the country, many of which are in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.
“The Biden-Harris Administration believes that any risk from lead in drinking water is unacceptable, which is why we are taking a whole-of-government approach to get the lead out of our communities,” said Adam Ortiz, EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. “With each dollar, each mile surveyed, and each pipe replaced, we’re one step closer to having lead-free drinking water.” Earlier this month, the EPA issued Lead and Copper Rule Improvements which establishes achievable, common-sense practices to identify and replace lead pipes within ten years. The public health and economic benefits of the final rule are estimated to be up to 13 times greater than the costs, and together with new funding, water systems will be able to accelerate removal of lead pipes and create good-paying local jobs in the process.
“Watching the removal of lead pipes in front of a West Chester resident’s home today was so gratifying, and I commend the EPA team that made this project happen,” said Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). “We got to see the federal government in action through the funding of these pipe replacements, the Commonwealth in action through the designation of funds, and Aqua and its partners in action removing lead pipes and replacing them with copper pipes delivering safe and clean water.”
Aqua Pennsylvania customers also praised the effort, and the experience working with Aqua for their lead service line replacement.
"Working with this process of getting the water lines replaced to my home was a huge scary thing -- water is everything,” said Aqua Pennsylvania customer Randell Spackman. “But when the water is not safe- you need the help of others to protect your family and health. Aqua stepped up and made the improvements to my home. I was shown that Aqua respected my home, giving me peace of mind once again."
“I have been dealing with Aqua Pennsylvania during the last 2 years, under the program where they replace lead piping between the home and the street at their expense,” said Aqua customer Diane Hammel. “From start to finish, it is an easy, smooth process that is completed in usually a few hours. Anything disturbed, such as bricks or lawn, are repaired so the site is left as close to how it looked prior to the replacement as possible.”
This year alone, Aqua Pennsylvania has replaced approximately 700 lead or galvanized service lines across the Commonwealth.
For more information about the program, click here.
You can also see the EPA press release on this event here.
