New Poll: Overwhelming Bipartisan Support for Funding Lead Pipe Replacement

A new poll released today by Black Millennials for Flint, BlueGreen Alliance, and Environmental Defense Fund reveals voters strongly support funding the replacement of lead pipes in water systems across the country. Further, regardless of political party, region, type of community, age, or racial and ethnic group, an overwhelming majority of voters cited concern over the issue of lead pipes in the US. 

Base voters in both parties back investing in our country by funding this work. The national poll found that four in five voters (80%) support funding replacement of lead pipes, including 74% of Trump 2020 voters and 85% of Biden 2020 voters. Overall, 75% of Republican voters, 77% of Independent voters, and 84% of Democratic voters expressed support for the policy. This strong support also held true for different regions of the US and regardless of whether the voter was in a city, suburb, or rural area. 

“America is experiencing a multi-generational lead crisis. While lead poisoning disproportionately impacts BIPOC communities such as Flint, MI, all people are at risk of lead exposure in our drinking water. Our country has spoken—it is time to prioritize funding the replacement of lead pipes in our water systems. In the words of our great ancestor Fannie Lou Hamer, ‘We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.’ Water is life and we simply cannot wait. Our policymakers and legislators must act now.” – LaTricea Adams, Founder Chief Executive Officer and President of Black Millennials for Flint. 

“Every person in our country deserves safe, healthy drinking water. Yet, for far too long, too little has been done to replace the lead service lines that bring water into millions of homes in the United States. This toxic hazard continues to plague communities—and disproportionally low-income communities and communities of color—across the nation. Eliminating the sources of lead exposure in our water systems will improve the health of these communities while creating good jobs and boosting local economies across the country. We cannot afford to wait any longer; it is crucial that Congress and the Biden administration act now to address this issue.” – Jason Walsh, BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director.

“There are few issues today that voters across the political spectrum seem to agree on, but this poll shows that funding lead pipe replacement is definitely one of them. Funding replacement of the lead pipes that provide drinking water to US homes will significantly protect health, reduce health disparities, and upgrade water infrastructure – and it is overwhelmingly supported by voters in the country. It’s past time for Congress to act.” – Tom Neltner, EDF Chemicals Policy Director.

The poll found:

• Lead pipes are a top concern: 81% of voters (76% Republican, 81% Independent, and 86% Democratic) report lead pipes in the US as a very concerning or somewhat concerning issue.
• Over 3/4 (79%) of voters believe it should be a priority for lawmakers to fund lead pipe replacement. This includes 71% of Republican voters, 85% of Democratic voters, and 79% of Independent voters. 

The online survey was conducted by Morning Consult between February 23 and 26 among a national sample of 1,996 registered voters, with the goal of measuring support for lead pipe replacement.

Additional information:

• EDF: The benefits of lead pipe replacement funding
• BGA: Water Works: The Job Creation Potential of Repairing America’s Water Infrastructure