Lead service lines

Lead pipes that carry drinking water into homes pose a serious health concern for many Great Lakes residents. Great Lakes states have some of the highest numbers of lead pipes in the nation. Lead poisoning from consuming contaminated water can cause irreversible brain damage in children.

Learn more below about the work to replace lead service lines bringing water into people’s homes.

Press Release

May 21, 2025

Environmental Organizations Celebrate Bipartisan Bill to Remove Ohio’s Lead Service Lines to Improve Drinking Water

Columbus, OH (May 21, 2025) — Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) introduced important legislation designed to eliminate all lead water lines that still exist in […]

Blog

May 6, 2025

Trump Budget Proposal Slashes Federal Funding, Threatens the Great Lakes and Sets Up Showdown With Congress  

The Trump Administration’s proposed FY 2026 President’s Budget slashes federal non-defense spending and proposes steep cuts to federal programs that protect and restore the Great Lakes and the communities that […]

Blog

February 26, 2025

Water Advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse: A Call for Clean Water Policies

On Thursday, January 30, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, alongside our partners—The Nature Conservancy, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, The Junction Coalition, and the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC)—came […]

Blog

October 11, 2024

Healing Our Waters Conference Recap: Community Voices Leading the Charge for Water Justice 

This year’s Healing Our Waters (HOW) Conference in Chicago brought together advocates, community leaders, and passionate individuals to address major issues facing the Great Lakes, including the pressing issue of […]

Press Release

October 8, 2024

EPA Finalizes Clean Drinking Water Rule That Will Get the Lead Out of Great Lakes Drinking Water

Chicago, IL (October 8, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule today requiring that water utilities across the country replace harmful lead pipes. The Lead […]

Blog

September 17, 2024

Supporting Legislation to Remove Lead Water Pipes in Ohio

Today, clean water advocates spoke out in support of Ohio’s Lead Line Replacement Act (HB 534), a bill designed to get the lead out of Ohio’s drinking water systems by […]

Press Release

February 5, 2024

EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Can Demonstrate Biden Administration’s Commitment to Protecting Human Health 

CHICAGO (February 5, 2024) – In November 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed improvements to the nation’s drinking water rules to finally address the widespread use of dangerous […]

Diving Deep for Solutions

January 22, 2024

Water Infrastructure: Getting Great Lakes Water to the People

For our Diving Deep for Solutions series, we commissioned author and journalist Kari Lydersen to examine big issues facing the lakes today and how our expert team at the Alliance for the Great Lakes […]

Blog

December 14, 2023

Reflections from COP28: A Journey of Global Impact and Local Stewardship

Note: This blog was written by Vice President of Policy and Strategic Engagement Crystal M.C. Davis. Attending the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai was an incredible experience, one that […]

Blog

December 11, 2023

Proposed EPA rule would strengthen protections against lead in drinking water, but timetable leaves too many Great Lakes residents in danger 

On December 6, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) took an important step in protecting public health by proposing to significantly strengthen national drinking water regulations for toxic lead […]