MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA STATEMENT

ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S LEAD PIPE AND PAINT ACTION PLAN

“We congratulate President Joseph Biden and support his announcement today that the federal Environmental Protection Agency will require drinking water systems nationwide to replace lead service lines within 10 years.

“When we faced the crisis of having to replace thousands of lead lines in Newark, a task experts predicted would take 10 years and impose significant financial hardship on residents, we created dynamic, pioneering, solutions. Our measures avoided those outcomes as we replaced more than 23,000 lead service lines in less than three years at no cost to our taxpayers. The program became a national model, which earned our city recognition from the administration and a visit from Vice-President Kamala Harris.

“Our experience and achievements in Newark are now the standard by which all municipalities in the nation, regardless of size, are basing their efforts to protect their citizens from the ongoing risks of a deteriorating water service infrastructure. This is a serious national health threat, and we are proud that Newark’s example of lead abatement has demonstrated what is possible with determination, creativity, and collaboration.”

• NEWARK –