Rates Could Fund Lead Pipe Replacement in Critical States: Laws in states with the most lead service lines support the practice
This April 2019 report, a collaboration between the Clinic and the Environmental Defense Fund, analyzes the authority of water utilities to use ratepayer funds to pay for the replacement of lead service lines (LSLs). There are 6 million LSLs in the United States and they are the most significant source of exposure to lead in drinking water in homes that have them. The paper reviews the laws of 13 states that collectively account for 2/3 of all LSLs in country, and concludes that there are no explicit barriers to using ratepayer funds to replace LSLs—including the portion on private property.