Sorry, but you are misunderstanding the rule. The lead rule you mentioned did not offer the protections the current one did. Not even close.

First, (and this one is personal) This rule required utilities to notify residents about lead contamination levels and to offer solutions for residents who may be impacted. I got one of those letters in November and I was horrified. I had been drinking unsafe water for over a decade. By the way, I have 4 autoimmune diseases. I went out and got a reverse osmosis water filter the next day. It was not cheap. Do you think the average family can afford that? And no, I was not going to wait for my town to correct the problem.

Second, The new rule requires utilities to remove lead pipes more quickly and provides federal funding for that process. While the 1986 SDWA set limits on lead levels, it didn't specifically mandate the rapid replacement of lead pipes, many of which are still in use across the country, especially in older cities. If you don’t remove the shitty pipes (which is costly) you cannot stop the problem.

The rule also lowers the threshold for lead concentration in drinking water, pushing for even stricter monitoring and compliance, aiming to keep lead levels as low as possible, especially in vulnerable communities like schools and daycare centers.

It also mandates more comprehensive testing for lead in schools and child care facilities, ensuring that children, who are particularly at risk from lead poisoning, are not exposed to dangerous levels.