New York City has more than 550,000 lead pipes that must be replaced by 2037 . Environmental groups say the best chance of that happening is if the state and city governments take over the work.

The 2024 federal mandate calls for the replacement of all the lead pipes that connect buildings to the main water line. But in New York City and much of the state, these pipes are privately owned and land owners are on the hook to replace them.

A recent report by environmental nonprofits the Environmental Policy Innovation Center and Environmental Advocates New York argues that shifting the responsibility to state and local governments would make the process more efficient, cost-effective and faster.

“It should be a no-brainer; what we're lacking is the political will,” said Joshua Klainberg,

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