A Harvard researcher says the EPA is underestimating the benefits of the 2020-21 revision of the federal lead and copper rule.
The federal regulation governing lead in drinking water underwent a major revision after the Flint water crisis. In justifying the new regulation, the EPA estimated it would cost communities across the US several hundreds of millions of dollars, while the financial benefit was only slightly better.
Now, a study from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds the new rule will generate billions in health benefits annually, far exceeding the EPA's estimate.
Ronnie Levin is the study's lead author
“EPA has signaled that they don’t think its important and that’s wrong.” said Levin.
Levin claims the new regulation will have greater financial impacts on children’s health and infrastructure than the EPA estimated.