In a historic first for the country, the Environmental Protection Agency last month ordered the replacement of lead pipes in drinking water systems within the next decade to combat pollution that has threatened public health for decades.
The mandate could be crucial for cities like Gary that are struggling with aging infrastructure and economic inequities that compound the dangers of lead exposure. With more than two-thirds of Indiana's estimated 55,000 leading service lines located in Northwest Indiana, Gary is poised to benefit significantly from the $42.7 million in federal funding made available to the state.
“We need to remove lead paint from housing,” said Alan Walts, director of the EPA’s Division of Environmental Justice, Community Health and Environmental Assessment. “We still have a lot to do together to reduce sources of lead exposure.”
Here's why the pipes are being removed, an overview of the removal plan, and an explanation of the costs.
Why are Gary's lead pipes being removed?
The Biden-Harris administration's updated Lead and Copper Rule requires drinking water systems to find and replace lead pipes in schools, homes and water mains within the next 10 years. The rule also tightens water testing and lowers the acceptable level of lead in drinking water.
The EPA estimates that this rule will reduce lead exposure for up to 1.2 million people and at least 178,000 children per year.
Lead can be a harmful neurotoxin that can have serious effects on children's mental and physical development, including brain damage and delayed development. In adults, lead can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function and cancer.
A 2024 report from Fair Housing found that 57% of Black people in Indiana live in housing units built before 1980, when hazards such as asbestos and lead paint were used in the construction of homes. This makes areas like Gary, where there are dozens of abandoned, older housing stock, much more vulnerable to these toxic exposures.
Who will remove Gary's lead pipes?
Indiana American Water, the state's primary water utility serving more than 1 million residents, including 250,000 customers in Gary and northwest Indiana, has an active utility replacement project.
“American Water is currently reviewing final improvements to the lead and copper rules and agrees that eliminating the risk of customer lead service lines over time is the right thing to do for the health, safety and peace of mind of our customers,” it said an IAW spokesperson told Capital B Gary, adding that IAW has been replacing leading service lines in Gary since 2017.
A map from Indiana American Water shows state-funded main service replacement projects in Gary stretch across the city's east and west sides, stretching along Broadway between 20th and 11th avenues.
When will the move be completed?
According to the IAW spokesperson, there are an estimated 55,000 lead service lines statewide, with about two-thirds of those, or about 36,000, located in northwest Indiana. There are three projects currently underway in northwest Indiana totaling approximately $30 million that are expected to be completed next year. Indiana American Water offers an interactive tracker to help residents identify and report critical utilities.
How much will it cost?
But as leading service lines continue to be replaced, the price could put a strain on the pockets of low-income communities already overburdened by risk. Earlier this year, Indiana American Water increased its rates, giving customers an additional $12 per month through next year. This increase places further financial strain on many Gary residents, whose average annual income is less than $40,000 and many of whom live on a fixed income.
Nancy Johnson pulled folded papers from her drawer and remembered how her water and sewer bills for her two-person household were about $100 a month. For nearly 50 years, she and her husband took care of spending their retirement income. But since the mains were replaced, she's noticed a $50 increase in her monthly sewer bills – a change that's sure to impact others.
“It didn’t start until we changed the plumbing, so that was a really unexpected cost,” she said. “We're retired and not going anywhere so we can deal with it, but it was really a shock.”
If electric rates continue to rise, Johnson said, many Gary residents like her who are on fixed incomes will be pushed to the limit and will once again have to put the risk of their health over their finances.
“It will probably be more difficult for those who have children and have lower incomes. Because anyone who has children already has a low income. I don't care if you make $100,000. Children cost a lot of money. Or if you're retired and only have one [kid]if you’re on Social Security, it really kills you.”
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