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Identifying Information Gaps to Help Communities Navigate Lead Service Line Replacement


Abstract: In response to state and federal policy changes, communities across the United States have been developing strategies to undertake the large-scale and complex process of replacing millions of lead service lines (LSLs). These lead pipes supply drinking water to homes and risk exposing households to lead, which can have long-term repercussions for a child’s development and cause chronic health issues in an adult. The challenge of replacing LSLs is felt acutely in the heart of the Midwest—home to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Seventh District, which comprises all of Iowa and most of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. According to estimates from a September 2023 report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Illinois and Wisconsin rank among the top ten states with the most lead pipes, Michigan and Indiana among the top 15, and Iowa among the top 25.

Keywords: Regional economy;

JEL Classification: H51; H54; H74; H75; R11;

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Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Publication Date: 2024-06