The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it will spend $3 billion to help states and territories identify and replace lead water pipes.

“The science is clear, there is no safe level of lead exposure, and the primary source of harmful exposure in drinking water is through lead pipes,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said, announcing the funding Thursday in an agency news release.

Lead poses serious health risks and can cause irreversible brain damage in children.

The funding announced Thursday is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2021. It sets aside $15 billion overall to identify and replace lead pipes.

  • NoFuckingWaynado
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    288 months ago

    Seems like the simplest solution would be to flood the existing pipes with liquid protons. The lead will be converted to gold. Any leftover protons will just combine with oxygen in the air and become water. Really pure water!

    • body_by_make
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      178 months ago

      Can you imagine how much a government alchemist contract costs though?

      • @SkybreakerEngineer
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        148 months ago

        Just enough to cover a single dude, his daughter, and the dog for a few years

        • DrDominate
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          28 months ago

          You can stretch that budget a bit if you fuse the daughter and dog into a chimera.

    • @[email protected]
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      148 months ago

      Any leftover protons will just combine with oxygen in the air and become water. Really pure water!

      Really hot water too, that reaction is just a tad exothermic.