The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this week that $20 million in grants are available to help communities and schools remove sources of lead in drinking water.

This grant funding, as well as additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, should help make progress on the goal of addressing lead and removing lead pipes across the country, the EPA announced.  “A pillar of our work at the EPA is ensuring that every person in every community has safe drinking water,” EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox said. “This grant funding will help reduce exposure to lead in drinking water and should be used to support underserved communities that are most at risk for exposure.”

According to the EPA, of all community water system Lead and Copper Rule Revision violations, nearly 80 percent have been at small groundwater-supplied public water systems.

Under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, the EPA is announcing the availability of $10 million for projects to conduct lead service line replacements or implement corrosion control improvements and $10 million for projects that remove sources of lead in drinking water (e.g., fixtures, fountains, outlets, plumbing materials) in schools or childcare facilities.