SAFE Taps Act

The SAFE Taps Act creates a federal grant program to replace lead service lines and aging drinking water mains, directly aiding local governments, public water systems, and tribal communities. It covers costs for replacing lead pipes, galvanized steel/iron lines downstream of lead, and non-lead drinking water mains, while requiring projects to follow prevailing wage standards. Unlike existing loan-based programs, this grant approach aims to help financially strained communities that cannot access loans for EPA-mandated infrastructure upgrades. The bill responds to the EPA’s finding that 9.2 million lead service lines pose serious health risks, particularly to children.