Whip Clark, EPA celebrate $1.4M for clean water in Malden

Special to The Advocate

MALDEN – On Monday, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (Massachusetts Fifth District) joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, Massachusetts Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Commissioner Bonnie Heiple and other Massachusetts leaders to celebrate $1.4 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021) funding that will replace lead pipes in Malden and help the City of Malden ensure safe drinking water for its residents.

“Every family deserves access to clean drinking water, yet dangerous lead pipes can still be found in homes across America — including right here in Massachusetts’ Fifth District,” said Congresswoman Clark. “With our historic Infrastructure Law, President Biden and Democrats delivered the resources to rebuild our economy and make this basic public health investment in communities like Malden. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding, and I will continue fighting until every kitchen faucet runs clean and clear.”

In addition to this funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Whip Clark secured over $3 million in federal money in 2022 for Malden’s lead pipe removal project.

The City of Malden – with extensive lead service lines within its distribution system – has been working diligently with MassDEP for about 20 years to document and eliminate lead pipes. They have completed 265 test pit explorations to identify lead service lines, and the city is looking to classify 1,600 unknown services within their system. Additionally, they have developed a robust GIS system to track and document their progress, and their plans for customer surveys, home inspections and multilingual educational materials to help every resident understand the science are on track.

“Our goal is simple, yet essential: to assure that everyone has clean, safe drinking water. That’s why identifying and replacing lead service lines is crucial; it can protect our communities, especially the most vulnerable, from lead exposure,” said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “New England has some of the oldest housing stock in the country, and no one—no matter where they live—should have to worry about lead in their drinking water and what comes out of the tap. This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides the much-needed resources to help deliver on that promise—to replace every lead pipe and ensure clean, safe drinking water for all.”

“This investment by the Biden-Harris Administration positions Massachusetts to continue removing lead from historic drinking water infrastructure,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “We’ve made great strides in removing lead pipes, but some remain and have been in place for nearly a century. It is high time to finish this work, and we’re grateful for the municipal partnerships and federal funding that make this possible.”

“We are grateful to Democratic Whip Clark for her support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and for helping secure this important funding for Malden,” said Mayor Christenson. “This funding will allow for the replacement of both the public and private sides of lead service lines and remove a significant health hazard for low-income residents who cannot afford the cost. Thank you also to our Engineering Department led by Director Yem Lip and to MassDEP and EPA because it is these partnerships that will create healthier and safer environments for our families.”

For more information, including state-by-state allotment of 2024 funding, and a breakdown of EPA’s lead Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, please visit EPA’s Drinking Water website: www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/engaging-community-lead-service-lines. For help on identifying lead service lines in your home, check out EPA’s Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead, an online step-by-step guide, on www.epa.gov. The guide also provides tips on actions to reduce lead exposure in drinking water, information on certified laboratories for water testing and resources to learn more.