Capitol Notebook: Iowa to receive over $30M to replace lead water pipes

Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley announced Thursday that Iowa will receive over $30 million from the federal infrastructure law to identify and replace lead water service lines.

The Environmental Protection Agency will administer the grant through its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

“Every Iowan should have access to clean, safe drinking water. These federal dollars will help our communities and ensure water coming out of the faucet is lead-free,” Grassley said in a statement. “I supported the bipartisan infrastructure bill with the health and safety of Iowans in mind, and I’m glad to see this investment continue to benefit our great state.”

Iowa has 64,230 service lines containing lead and 270,978 services lines of unknown material, according to a recent EPA report. Lead exposure can cause a range of serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease, decreased kidney function and irreversible neurological damage in children.

Former U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat, and Grassley, a Republican, were the only members of Iowa's congressional delegation that voted for the 2021 infrastructure bill.

Reynolds requests expedited disaster declaration

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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has requested an expedited Presidential Disaster Declaration for nine Iowa counties in the wake of destructive tornadoes that caused major damage last week in Minden and Pleasant Hill.

Reynolds, in her letter, requested funding under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Individual Assistance Program and the activation of the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program for Clarke, Crawford, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby and Union counties.

The former provides disaster-affected homeowners, renters and businesses access to assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses and legal services. The latter provides homeowners, renters, businesses and most nonprofit organizations in the affected counties whose property was damaged or destroyed the ability to apply for low-interest disaster loans.

The governor also requested funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state.

Reynolds previously issued a state disaster proclamation allowing state resources to be used to respond to and recover from the effects of the severe weather.

Severe storms moved across Western and Central Iowa April 26, producing 24 tornadoes in Iowa with winds of up to 160 mph, resulting in significant debris, power outages and extensive damage to property, her letter says.

A water treatment plant serving the city of Minden was damaged and left inoperative from the impact of an EF3 tornado that tore through the county, Reynolds wrote. State officials found a vendor to provide water treatment to Minden residents until permanent repairs can be made.

Iowa’s congressional delegation also sent a letter calling on President Joe Biden to approve Reynolds’ request.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau