The challenge of aging water infrastructure in West Virginia has highlighted not only the ongoing need for extensive repairs and upgrades but also the hidden danger of lead pipes, which can contribute to harmful lead exposure through drinking water.
The new federal rule requiring water utilities to replace lead service lines by 2037 has raised significant concern, especially as it comes amid the Trump administration’s review of environmental protections. The $15 billion in federal funding to help make these changes is crucial, but the task of identifying and replacing lead pipes across the state is complex.
In West Virginia, two-thirds of water utilities do not know the material of their service lines, making it difficult to gauge the extent of the lead issue.
Some cities, like Clarksburg, have already experienced the consequences of lead exposure, prompting the EPA to take emergency action. The process of identifying lead pipes requires customer participation, with some utilities going to great lengths to collect the necessary data.
Despite improvements through the 2024 EPA rule, including updated sampling requirements and a lowered threshold for additional monitoring, the EPA’s recognition that no amount of lead is safe underscores the urgency of replacing lead pipes. However, the future of both the rule and the associated funding remains uncertain due to ongoing legal challenges and political maneuvering.