Rep. Jarrells Applauds $184M in Federal Funding for Ohio Lead Pipe Replacement Program

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) today proudly announced that Ohio will receive $184.3M from the Federal Government as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This crucial funding aims to identify and replace lead water lines across the state.

“As we strive to support our communities, it's imperative that every Ohio family has access to safe and clean drinking water, which we all deserve,” said Rep. Jarrells, a lead poisoning survivor. “Regrettably, the financial burden of replacing lead water lines often falls on homeowners, leading to inaction due to prohibitive costs and leaving residents with no choice but to use potentially harmful water.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects the total funding to replace up to 1.7M lead pipes nationwide. Ohio currently faces a significant public health challenge with an estimated 650K lead service lines still in operation, the second-highest number in the nation.

“Alarmingly, the majority of affected neighborhoods are older, with aging populations or economically marginalized residents,” continued Rep. Jarrells. “The human toll of lead poisoning, especially on children, cannot be overstated. It affects not just health but also educational outcomes and future potential.” 

Rep. Jarrells has been a vocal advocate for addressing this issue statewide. Alongside colleague Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana), House Bill 226, presently in the Senate Public Utility Committee, aims to empower public water utilities regulated by PUCO with the means to replace customer-owned water service lines alongside their scheduled utility main replacement projects.