New Federal Grant Program Targets 9.2 Million Lead Service Lines, Mandates Prevailing Wages for Water Infrastructure Jobs

The Safe and Fair Elimination of Taps with Lead Service Lines Act, or the SAFE Taps Act, is the federal government’s latest attempt to solve a massive public health problem: lead in our drinking water. Put simply, this bill establishes a new, dedicated grant program through the EPA to help local governments and water systems finally rip out and replace all those old lead, galvanized steel, and iron water service lines connecting homes to the main pipes.

Why grants? The bill’s findings section is pretty clear: the current system, which relies heavily on loans, doesn't work for financially strapped communities. Taking on more debt just isn't an option for many cities and towns, especially those that need the infrastructure help the most. This new grant program aims to fix that funding gap, ensuring that the EPA’s mandate to replace these lines—which cause permanent neurological damage in kids—can actually be met across the board.

The All-In Approach to Water Replacement

This isn't just about replacing the last foot of pipe coming into your basement. The SAFE Taps Act defines “eligible project costs” broadly, which is a smart move for long-term reliability. The grants can cover the cost of replacing the lead service line itself, but also associated costs like replacing galvanized steel or iron lines that are downstream of lead components. Crucially, the funding can also be used to replace old drinking water mains that aren't lead-free, as well as planning, design, and even site restoration after the digging is done (SEC. 4).

If you live in an older neighborhood where the water main is already ancient, this is good news. Replacing the service line without touching the old main is often just kicking the can down the road. By allowing the grant money to address both the service lines and the mains, the bill aims for a comprehensive fix that improves the entire system's reliability, not just the water quality in one house.

Prevailing Wages: Higher Costs, Protected Workers

One provision that will impact both the construction industry and the overall cost of the program is the labor standard requirement (SEC. 3). Any contractor or subcontractor working on a project funded by these grants must pay their laborers and mechanics no less than the prevailing wages determined by the Secretary of Labor. This is essentially a prevailing wage requirement, similar to what you see in other federal construction projects.

For workers, this is a clear win—it ensures that these taxpayer-funded infrastructure jobs offer solid wages. However, for the municipalities running the projects, this means the cost per replacement will likely be higher than if they used non-union or lower-wage labor. While the grants cover the costs, this increased project expense could mean that the total number of service lines replaced nationwide will be lower, depending on how much funding Congress ultimately appropriates for the program.

Who Benefits from the Fine Print?

First and foremost, this bill benefits the public health of every community, especially children who are most vulnerable to lead exposure. It also gives a huge assist to local governments and public water systems—including federally recognized Indian Tribes—that were facing massive, unfunded mandates under existing EPA rules. Instead of being forced to take out high-interest loans, they get grant money to tackle the problem.

One point of slight vagueness is the replacement of galvanized steel and iron lines, which is only covered if they are or were "downstream of lead components" (SEC. 4). This conditional language could create some administrative headaches, requiring water systems to prove the historical presence of lead connections before getting approval to swap out the non-lead lines. Nevertheless, the SAFE Taps Act is a necessary step that recognizes the complexity and financial burden of fixing our aging water infrastructure, replacing the debt model with a grant model that prioritizes environmental justice and public health.