A Public Health Emergency
Turn on your faucet in Albany, and you might wonder: is this water safe? For years, lead pipes have lurked beneath the city’s streets, threatening families with every sip. On May 13, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul launched a $12.9 million project to replace nearly 2,500 lead service lines across all 15 city wards. This effort, funded by a $3.9 million state grant and $9 million in federal support, tackles a crisis that endangers public health and demands urgent action.
Lead is a relentless threat. Decades of research confirm no amount is safe, especially for children, whose brains and bodies suffer lasting harm from even trace exposure. In Albany, an estimated 40 percent of homes rely on lead service lines, a legacy of outdated infrastructure. This project ensures replacements happen at no cost to homeowners or renters, a commitment to fairness that sets a new standard.
The stakes are personal. Low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, long neglected by discriminatory policies like redlining, face the highest risks. Hochul’s $100 million Lead Infrastructure Forgiveness and Transformation Grants target these inequities, ensuring every resident benefits. Safe water isn’t a luxury; it’s a right, and Albany’s bold move proves it.
This project carries a deeper purpose. It addresses a history of environmental injustice, where marginalized communities endured crumbling pipes while wealthier areas saw upgrades. By prioritizing underserved wards, Albany’s initiative delivers tangible progress, proving that health and equity can guide infrastructure decisions.
The Urgency of Action
Time is running out. Lead in drinking water accounts for 20 to 60 percent of total exposure, with infants on formula especially vulnerable. Studies show exposure causes IQ declines, behavioral challenges, and chronic conditions like kidney disease. In cities like Chicago, Black and Hispanic neighborhoods face higher contamination rates and less testing access, a pattern Albany seeks to break.
New York’s response aligns with a national push. The Biden-Harris administration’s 2024 Lead and Copper Rule mandates full lead pipe replacement within 10 years, backed by $15 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. New York’s $340 million investment, blending state and federal funds, relieves cities like Albany from crushing debt. Why delay when children’s health hangs in the balance?
Some advocate a different path, urging states or private firms to shoulder infrastructure costs for efficiency. Yet this often leads to higher water rates, burdening low-income families. In 2024, U.S. water utilities faced a $110 billion funding gap, with many delaying critical repairs. New York’s grant-driven approach protects residents, proving public health trumps privatization.
Roots of the Problem
Albany’s lead pipes trace back to a time when their dangers were ignored. Widely used until the 1986 ban on leaded solder, these pipes became a hidden hazard in older cities. The 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act and later regulations marked progress, but enforcement often fell short. Today, Albany grapples with a network of aging pipes, some over a century old.
Environmental justice sharpens the lens. Since the 1980s, advocates have exposed how low-income and minority communities face disproportionate harm from outdated infrastructure. Discriminatory practices, from redlining to uneven public works, left these areas with failing systems. Albany’s citywide project begins to correct this, ensuring every neighborhood benefits equally.
Doubters may argue that replacing lead pipes is too expensive or that corrosion control suffices. But corrosion is unreliable, and the human cost of inaction far outweighs financial concerns. The EPA estimates $744 billion is needed over 20 years to modernize U.S. water systems. Waiting only escalates costs and risks.
A Model for Progress
Albany’s project showcases what’s possible. Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s administration has poured $150 million into water infrastructure over 12 years, surpassing prior decades’ efforts. The Water Department, under Commissioner Joseph Coffey, targets a lead-free system by 2034. With 1,700 Chapter 1717 lead lines replaced and 780 homeowner grants awarded, Albany is advancing rapidly.
New York’s broader commitment fuels this success. Since 2017, the state has invested $6 billion in water infrastructure, with $500 million allocated for 2025. Cities like Newark and Chicago demonstrate that rapid replacement is achievable with focused resources. Every community deserves this level of dedication.
Opponents of robust regulation argue it stifles progress, favoring deregulation to cut costs. But weakened oversight risks disasters like Flint’s water crisis. New York’s blend of strong leadership and equitable funding ensures accountability, delivering water residents can trust.
A Call to Keep Fighting
Albany’s progress is inspiring, but the battle continues. Over 13,000 lead pipes remain in the city, and millions more nationwide. Every unaddressed line is a health risk. New York’s strategy—combining state grants with federal support—offers a path forward, prioritizing people over budgets.
Safe water is non-negotiable. Albany’s transformation proves that when health and equity guide policy, real change happens. Other states must adopt this model, investing boldly to protect families. The fight for clean water demands urgency, and Albany’s example lights the way.