The long and complicated — and expensive — effort to replace lead lines in the U.S.

Eight years ago, Cincinnati Waterworks (CCWW) began a project to replace all the city’s lead pipes, with 45,000 now remaining. The replacement pace was approximately 1200 a year, with the cost covered by CCWW.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has now mandated that all lead pipes across the country be replaced over the next ten years, meaning the CCWW effort will need to ramp up to 3,600 replacements a year, estimated to cost $200 million.  

Federal grants will be available, but states — and cities within those states — will be competing for funds.

The order of replacement in Cincinnati is being determined by a data driven model based on research by Professor Auffrey, who teaches urban planning at UC’s School of Design, within the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP).   

Auffrey and his research team have prioritized replacement zones by using zip codes where children have high lead levels. The team, in addition, looks at data like poverty levels and identifies food deserts.

Listen to the segment.

Featured image at top by iStock/wirestock.