Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Act

To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to reduce lead in drinking water, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Act 2. Reducing lead in drinking water (a) Definition of lead service line Section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f (17) Lead service line The term lead service line . (b) Replacing lead service lines Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300g–6 (f) Replacing lead service lines (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (i) an owner or operator of a public water system; (ii) a qualified nonprofit organization, as determined by the Administrator; or (iii) a municipality or a State, interstate, or intermunicipal agency. (B) Lead pipe replacement program The term lead pipe replacement program (i) replacing lead service lines; (ii) testing, planning, or carrying out other relevant activities, as determined by the Administrator, to identify the location and condition of lead service lines; or (iii) providing assistance to low-income homeowners to replace privately owned lead service lines. (C) Low-income homeowner The term low-income homeowner (2) Grant program (A) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall establish a grant program to provide assistance to eligible entities for lead pipe replacement programs. (B) Evaluation In determining whether to provide assistance to an eligible entity under this subsection, the Administrator shall evaluate whether the eligible entity has— (i) a current inventory of lead service lines in the applicable public water system; (ii) a plan to notify customers of such public water system of the replacement of any publicly owned portion of a lead service line; (iii) a plan to replace the privately owned portion of a lead service line at the cost of replacement; (iv) a plan for a program of assistance to low-income homeowners to replace the privately owned portion of lead service lines; or (v) a plan of recommended measures to avoid exposure of the public to short-term increases in lead levels following a lead service line replacement. (C) Priority application In providing assistance under this subsection, the Administrator shall give priority to an eligible entity that— (i) will carry out a lead pipe replacement program at a public water system that has exceeded the lead action level established by the Administrator at any time during the 3-year period preceding the date of submission of the application of the eligible entity; (ii) will address lead levels in water for human consumption at a school, daycare, or other facility that primarily serves children or subpopulations at greater risk as identified under section 1458(a); (iii) will include in the lead pipe replacement program a program to provide assistance to low-income homeowners; or (iv) addresses such priority criteria as the Administrator may establish, consistent with the goal of reducing lead in water for human consumption. (D) Cost sharing (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), the non-Federal share of the total cost of a program funded by a grant provided under this subsection shall be not less than 20 percent. (ii) Waiver The Administrator may reduce or eliminate the non-Federal share required under clause (i) for reasons of affordability, as the Administrator determines to be appropriate. (E) Low-income homeowner assistance (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), an eligible entity may use a grant provided under this subsection to provide assistance to low-income homeowners to replace privately owned lead service lines. (ii) Limitation The amount of assistance provided to an individual low-income homeowner under this subparagraph shall not exceed $10,000. (3) Guidance Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall, in cooperation with States and qualified nonprofit organizations, develop guidance for owners and operators of public water systems to assist such owners and operators in the preparation of an inventory of lead service lines in their public water system. (4) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. .

Summary: Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Act This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a grant program to remove lead service lines from public water systems. Grant recipients may use grant funds to assist low-income homeowners with replacing privately owned lead service lines.