What does the new EPA initiative mean for landlords with lead water pipes?

[Marcus Auerbach]

I have been getting a lot of questions from owners about letters being sent out by the municipalities here in Milwaukee to tenants informing them about potential lead service lines leading from the street into the house. The letters are pretty vague and when you look on the EPA website they talk about a 10-year initiative. Lead water lines have been a big topic here and I imagine in every older city in the midwest and east coast. But I can't seem to find any information about what are legal requirements for owners and property managers. Nobody ever tests for lead-based paint in homes built before 1978, because once you test you have to disclose. Tenants have to sign a disclosure, which really only says it's possible that the old paint layers contain lead, but we don't know. Same for water service lines?

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration...

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Marcus Auerbach:

I've researched this and I believe it's vague on purpose. There is currently no requirement for the landlord to test for lead or pay to replace the pipes. The EPA is hoping  owners will investigate and identify the pipes on their own, report it to their utility provider for tracking, and then the EPA can obtain funding for replacement. Some owners may misunderstand and choose to replace the pipes on their own, saving the EPA some time and money.

These pipes were installed over 100 years. They are not going to replace them all in 10 years.