(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Biden administration is proposing requirements for utility companies to remove toxic lead water pipes across the country within a decade.
Michael Regan, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said “everyone in this country should be able to turn on their tap for a glass of water and know that it’s safe to drink.”
Earlier this month, the EPA announced Chicago was getting a loan of more than $300 million to replace lead service lines.
"This is a particular problem when we think about the challenge of having lead in our drinking water systems," said Radhika Fox, Assistant Administrator for water with the EPA.
"There are actually about nine million service lines all around the country and in fact about 400,000 of those lead service lines are right here in Chicago and we've got to get the lead out."
Chicago has more lead service lines than anywhere else in the country.
The federal loan is expected to cover the cost of removing 30,000 lines in about 3 years and $15 billion of an infrastructure bill passed by Congress has been earmarked for the effort nationwide.
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