Safe Drinking Water for Disadvantaged Communities Act

This bill makes sure money set aside to replace lead water pipes goes to low-income and overburdened communities as grants or loans that don’t have to be paid back. It covers the work needed to find, plan, design, and replace lead service lines, using funds from the federal infrastructure law through state drinking water programs. The goal is to speed up pipe replacement where help is needed most and reduce the cost burden on residents and local water systems.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Disadvantaged communities and their water systems.
• What changes: All eligible funds for lead pipe work must be given as forgivable loans or grants, not regular loans that must be repaid.
• What it covers: Finding, planning, designing, and replacing lead service lines.