This is a podcast series Funding To Fight Lead.
There are an estimated 9.2 million lead service lines in the ground in the U.S. and it may cost $50 billion to remove them. The series explores financing lead service line replacement, technical assistance for under-resourced communities, and examples of successful approaches.
This series is supported by the Environmental Policy Innovation Center and WaterNow Alliance. It is also sponsored by 120Water, BlueConduit, and LeadCopperRule.com.
THE EPISODES
#166: Funding To Fight Lead: The Menu Of Options
There are many aspects to getting lead lines out of the ground, including the $15 billion for removal from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the use of municipal bonds to fund work on private property, the role of state and local policies, and help for communities in need.
#171: Funding To Fight Lead: State & Local Policy
State and local policies play a central role in financing of lead service line replacement. The ability of utilities to use public funds for work on private property is often the key challenge.
#176: Funding To Fight Lead: How Denver Did It
When Denver Water decided to replace 64,000 to 84,000 lead service lines over 15 years, the question arose of how to pay for the work. The utility ultimately decided to use public funds for the work on private property.
#184: Funding To Fight Lead: Using Municipal Bonds
Replacing the nation’s lead service lines in a timely manner is going to require funding beyond government dollars. The municipal bonds that utilities use for a variety of water infrastructure projects are an untapped resource for lead service line replacement.
#191: Funding To Fight Lead: A Panel Of Perspectives
A group of experts from government, banking, and advocacy gathered at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. to discuss funding options and opportunities and how to advance the work.
#198: Funding To Fight Lead: Technical Assistance
Thousands of water systems are so small they lack the staff expertise and capacity needed to identify, apply for, and manage funds. That’s why there is a massive push to expand and deploy technical assistance, including the launch of more environmental finance centers.
