Newark Mayor Ras Baraka speaks at an event highlighting Newark’s effort to replace lead water pipes, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 in Newark, NJ. The event was attended by federal officials, including Vice-President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka speaks at an event highlighting Newark’s effort to replace lead water pipes, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 in Newark, NJ. The event was attended by federal officials, including Vice-President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan.

Newark’s success in juggling political, logistical, and financial challenges in its journey to replace its lead service lines suggests that there are solutions to the U.S.’s monumental lead pipe problem. The 2021 federal infrastructure plan includes $15 billion to replace lead pipes across the U.S., but this is only partial funding. Each city and state must come up with its own solutions.

Photographer
Stefan Jeremiah

Associated Press

2022

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