LACKAWANNA, N.Y. -- New Environmental Protection Agency rules imposed last year require communities to replace all of their lead pipe service lines within the next decade.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said places like Erie County are among the most impacted in the country.

"Western New York, because we're an older community, has one of the oldest water systems so there's unfortunately plenty of lead in our pipes," Schumer said.

He held a press conference Monday in front of a line replacement project in the city of Lackawanna. Schumer said while the county has done a good job of beginning the daunting task, it still estimates there are 12,000 lead and galvanized service lines requiring replacement.

"We have to do it but the reason the federal government stepped in is it's too expensive, even for large municipalities like Erie County or smaller municipalities like Lackawanna to do it on their own," he said.

The majority leader said he championed $15 billion in the bipartisan infrastructure law dedicated solely to getting rid of lead pipes. He said last week he delivered $129 million in federal funds to New York state, raising its total to $350 million and promises more is coming.

"Newer cities in the South and West didn't even use lead pipes so even though the $15 billion covers the whole country, we're going to get a very good share of it," Schumer said.

The state allocates the money to municipalities factoring in two criteria; the age of the systems and the percentage of disadvantaged people within the communities.

"One of the reasons I'm here is to notify all of the counties in Western New York, apply quickly and I'll try to get behind your application," he said.

Schumer said he plans to continue to deliver federal money until there are no longer lead pipelines. That includes $5 million in grants he hopes to earmark for Erie County in future congressionally directed spending.