EPA Announces $6.2 Million to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water in American Samoa

Pago Pago - Today, EPA is announcing $6.2 million in funding to protect American Samoa from exposure to lead in drinking water. This investment will go directly to states through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and is part of EPA's unwavering commitment to advancing cooperative federalism and Making America Healthy Again.

This funding will go toward finding and replacing lead pipes (also known as lead service lines) that deliver water to homes. Communities can use these funds for identifying lead pipes, planning removal projects, and funding replacement of these lead service lines. Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that is especially harmful to children. Each lead pipe removed and replaced delivers real, tangible environmental and health benefits to communities across our great nation.

"An investment in removing lead pipes is an investment in America's children and families," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. "The Trump EPA is committed to tackling lead exposure and this $2.9 billion will help protect current and future generations across America by accelerating local efforts to find and replace toxic lead pipes."

"With these additional funds, EPA is delivering on our commitment to provide safe drinking water in American Samoa," said Acting EPA Pacific Southwest Region Administrator Michael Martucci, "Getting the lead out of pipes is vital to the health and prosperity of children and families in communities all across America."

Providing clean, safe drinking water is a top priority under EPA's Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative and reducing exposure to lead is a critical piece of ensuring clean air, land, and water for all Americans. 

The Drinking Water State Revolving Funds are financial assistance programs run by states to help water systems achieve the health protection objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The agency is distributing funding based on the best available information on the location of approximately 4 million lead service lines across the country. As good stewards of taxpayer dollars, EPA will work with states to ensure this funding is promptly provided to communities to support efforts to reduce exposure to lead through drinking water.     

The Trump EPA is committed to tackling the lead issue like never before. EPA recently published a revamped lead website, found at epa.gov/lead, including a new StoryMap about Lead and Children's Health. The streamlined website allows parents and caregivers, contractors, health care professionals, and other users to quickly find critical information on how to prevent exposures from lead. This is one of many actions being undertaken by EPA under the government-wide Federal Lead Action Plan, which was launched in President Trump's first term as a blueprint for reducing lead exposure through collaboration among federal agencies.