All U.S. municipalities will be required to remove lead from their water lines over a 10-year period under new federal regulations the Environmental Protection Agency released Tuesday.

To officially announce the new rule, President Joe Biden traveled to Milwaukee, where he spoke about the role that his administration’s bipartisan infrastructure law played in advancing the replacement of lead pipes in Wisconsin’s largest city as well as across the country.

“For too long, local communities have known how important it was to deal with this problem,” Biden said. “It hadn’t been given the national priority it demanded, though. I’m here today to tell you that I’m finally insisting that it gets prioritized, and I’m insisting to get it done well.”

The U.S. has more than 9 million water service lines still using lead pipes, according to the EPA, including 340,000 lines in Wisconsin.

The infrastructure law includes $15 billion for lead pipe replacement. It also contains incentives to use union labor and to create apprenticeship programs to train more workers.

Underscoring that, Biden was introduced by Alonzo Romo, a Laborers Union member who has been among the workers replacing lead lines in Milwaukee.

“I personally helped move 35 lead laterals, and while I have a lot more to do, I know we’re making great pace,” Romo said. “This is hard work, but it is so rewarding. Not only am I getting paid great wages and great benefits, but I know that when I am removing a lead service lateral, I’m helping a family in our community have access to clean drinking water.”

Nationally about 367,000 lead lines have been replaced — and in the process, Biden said, “providing what’s good for our health and for our environment is also good for our economy and it’s good for jobs.”

The rule released Tuesday is an update of the federal lead and copper rule for drinking water. The 10-year timeline it requires for all communities to replace their lead service lines starts in 2027.

“This is also about fairness,” Biden said. “Nationally, I’m directing nearly half of this funding to go to disadvantaged communities that have borne the brunt of lead pipe poisoning for damn too long.”

A disproportionate number of people living where lead pipes remain in use are people of color, Biden said. “We have an obligation to make things right.”

Advocates praised the measure as a boon to public health.

“As we confront the legacy of lead contamination, this rule strengthens accountability and prioritizes the safety of our most vulnerable communities,” said Sara Welling, director of the water and agriculture program at Clean Wisconsin. “Today’s announcement sets us on a course for a healthier future, empowering local governments and water utilities to address this persistent threat with greater urgency and transparency.”

WISN-TV in Milwaukee partnered with the American Red Cross to hold the “WISN 12 Hurricane Relief Drive” to provide critical support for people devastated by Hurricane Helene. Through the generosity of viewers and corporate contributions, $144,248 was collected to help communities following the record-setting, deadly storm.

“The death and destruction from Helene is heartbreaking, leaving destruction and the lives of so many others totally upended,” said Jan Wade, president and general manager of WISN 12. “We wanted to do whatever we could to help, and immediately partnered with the local Red Cross and our generous viewers to raise much needed funds.”

The station launched the drive on Sept. 27 with online donations to the Red Cross. On Oct. 2 the station hosted a phone bank from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Along with the generosity of viewers across southeastern Wisconsin, matching donations were delivered by companies including Sargento offering $20,000 and the WE Energies Foundation offering $10,000. WISN 12 also contributed $1,000 for the recovery and rebuilding efforts.

“It’s extremely touching to see communities here at home helping other communities across the country,” Wade said. “Whenever people are in need, no matter where they are, Wisconsin’s right there with them.”

The drive is the 6th relief drive that the station has hosted since 2017. Previous relief drives helped those impacted by Hurricanes Harvey (2017), Irma (2017), Florence (2018), Ida (2021) and Ian (2022). To date, the relief drives have raised $690,255 for the American Red Cross. WISN 12 and the American Red Cross stand ready to host another ‘WISN 12 Hurricane Relief Drive’ after Hurricane Milton hits.

MILWAUKEE — Flights from Tampa, Fort Myers, and Orlando touched down at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport Monday evening. These were some of the final flights as Hurricane Milton rolls into Florida.

Blanca Smykowski was one of the people waiting for the Florida flights to land.

“Glad you guys got out,” Blanca said as she hugged her daughter.

Bella Smykowski and her friend Nelly Korhonen got out of Tampa to escape the wrath of Hurricane Milton.

“It’s felt like the longest 24 hours,” Blanca said.

Blanca drove from Chicago to pick Bella and Nelly up. They are students at The University of Tampa.

“We had to find a flight to Chicago, and we couldn’t get a flight. Everything was unavailable. We tried a few different airlines,” Blanca explained.

Watch: Students and families land safely in Milwaukee as Hurricane Milton strengthens

Students and families land safely in Milwaukee as Hurricane Milton strengthens

The Category 5 hurricane is closing airports and prompting evacuations around the Tampa Bay area. The Tampa International Airport plans to suspend operations at 9:00 Tuesday morning due to the hurricane.

“All of the campus could feel that this one was nothing to mess around with,” Bella said. 

With tears in her eyes, Blanca is grateful she could get the girls out of Florida.

“A lot of kids unfortunately are stuck out there whose parents couldn’t get them home. I’m just glad we had the option of flying her home,” Blanca explained.

For some, the powerful storm meant cutting vacation short and preparing for the worst.

“Packed up the house, buckets underneath the furniture,” Brookfield resident, Gillian Rios said.

Gillian and Lacey Rios came home four days early from vacationing in Fort Myers. They said the rain was nonstop.

TMJ4 News

“I’m just beyond grateful and glad that we were able to get out in time,” Gillian explained.

“Our flight was on time. Nothing was delayed,” Lacey added.

Information on flights departing and arriving at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport can be found here.

It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.

Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.

Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip