Burying the lead: Effects of public lead service line replacements on blood lead levels and property values. Key takeaways from the UCT-UCR seminar
Michelle M. Marcus, Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Vanderbilt University, United States and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), presented research on replacing lead service lines (LSLs) in household water delivery systems. Her findings show significant benefits for child health and property values, while highlighting that ageing infrastructure continues to expose millions, particularly in disadvantaged communities, to unsafe lead levels. Studies from the World Health Organisation (WHO), United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), consistently reinforce that no level of lead exposure is safe for children.
Key takeaways:
- Partial replacements of public lead service lines in Providence, Rhode Island, resulted in a ~13% reduction in child blood lead levels. However, this also led to housing displacement for vulnerable renters, who then faced similar lead exposure in their new homes.
- Replacing lead service lines increased home sale prices, indicating that buyers value these infrastructure improvements.
- The findings emphasise the urgent need for better funding, global data on lead infrastructure and comprehensive policies to protect disadvantaged groups from the widespread risks of lead in water systems.
The Q&A session explored the complexities of lead pipe replacement, contrasting international testing standards and discussing financing needs, particularly for regions like South Africa, which face unique environmental challenges. The conversation highlighted how disadvantaged communities suffer disproportionate exposure and explored the potential incentive for infrastructure improvement by linking water quality to property values.
This presentation is part of the UCT-UCR Seminar Series: Water Economics and Politics, a joint initiative between the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of California, Riverside (UCR).