May 20, 2026 – La Fortaleza, Puerto Rico – Governor of Puerto Rico Jenniffer González-Colón announced that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allocated $27,456,000 to protect Puerto Rico from exposure to lead in drinking water. This investment will be distributed directly to states through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and is part of EPA’s ongoing commitment to the “Making America Healthy Again” initiative.

These funds will be used to identify and replace lead service lines that deliver water to households. Communities may use this funding to locate lead pipes, plan removal projects, and finance full replacement efforts. Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that is especially harmful to children. Each lead service line removed represents measurable and tangible public health benefits for communities across the Island.

“An investment in removing lead pipes is an investment in America’s children and families,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. “The Trump EPA is committed to tackling lead exposure and this $2.9 billion will help protect current and future generations across America by accelerating local efforts to find and replace toxic lead pipes.”

"By supporting drinking water infrastructure EPA is protecting public health across Puerto Rico,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “This funding will help local water systems address aging infrastructure, reduce potential lead exposure, and deliver safer drinking water for families now and into the future.”

Governor Jenniffer González-Colón stated: “This announcement reaffirms our administration’s commitment to working in coordination with federal agencies to protect the health of our communities and modernize drinking water infrastructure in Puerto Rico. We thank the EPA and the Trump Administration for their support, as well as PRFAA for its coordination efforts in Washington to help secure this allocation, which translates into greater safety, well-being, and quality of life for our families.”

Providing clean and safe drinking water is a priority under EPA’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative, and reducing lead exposure is a critical component of ensuring safe water for all Americans.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Funds are financial assistance programs administered by states to help water systems meet the public health objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The EPA distributes funding based on the best available data on the location of approximately 4 million lead service lines nationwide. As responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, EPA will work with states to ensure these funds are efficiently delivered to communities to support efforts to reduce lead exposure through drinking water.

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