NRDC has been on the ground from Flint, Michigan to Newark, New Jersey fighting to remove toxic lead pipes and secure safe drinking water for communities. This past week was a huge milestone.
Earlier this week, safe water advocates from across the country celebrated a monumental win for public health when the EPA released the Lead and Copper Improvements Rule, which requires nearly every lead water pipe in the country to be removed within the next 10 years. NRDC has partnered with communities in Flint, Newark, and beyond to demand justice for the tens of millions of people who for too long have had lead in their drinking water, with disastrous impacts on their health and wellbeing. Thanks to the courage and tenacity of community activists; the dedication of so many in our movement; and the support of city, state and federal government partners; we’re one giant step closer to getting lead pipes out of the ground once and for all— and getting safe drinking water into every home in the United States. Because of NRDC's decades-long leadership on this issue, several members of our team were invited to join President Biden in Milwaukee for the official announcement. It was an honor to stand alongside many of the community leaders who our team has gotten to know very well over the years. This new rule is a testament to the power of persistence— and it’s proof that when we form strong coalitions, change is possible. I had the honor of traveling to Milwaukee with President Biden on Air Force One. We talked about how this work is fundamentally about people’s dignity and how the country can tackle this problem once and for all, if we choose to do so. I couldn’t be prouder of NRDC’s extraordinary team working on this ensuring that the basic human right to clean water is protected. [Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz]