The Environmental Protection Agency is pouring more money into the efforts to remove lead from local drinking water systems, more than a year into St. Louis’ work to comply with an order to replace lead pipes.

The EPA announced last week the release of $3 billion in federal funding for the effort. The agency, under the Biden administration, issued a rule last year requiring the identification and removal of lead pipes in city drinking water systems within the decade.

Lawmakers, including representatives from Illinois, had recently called on the EPA to release promised federal funding they said was being held up and slowing the process.

In St. Louis, it’s been a year of working to complete Step 1 of the effort: identifying which pipes actually need replacement.

“We don't have an agreeme

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