The Environmental Protection Agency recently approved an almost $700 million plan to remove lead water pipes in the Denver, Colorado area. The agency has called the local water utility’s efforts an “example” to other utilities around the country looking to replace their old lead water lines, the Associated Press reported.

The push to rapidly replace old lead water lines was a response to the high levels of lead found in Denver’s drinking water about decade ago. In 2020, city officials promised to replace between 64,000 and 84,000 lead pipes in 15 years. Since then, local utility Denver Water has dug up 15,000 lead pipes, which is about 18% to 23% of the lead lines in the city, The Denverite reported.