Lead

The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) announced its final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) on October 8, 2024.  Among the key requirements in the final LCRI are:

• All systems to fully replace all lead and galvanized requiring replacement services lines
• All systems to determine materials of all service lines
• Addition of lead connectors to service line inventory
• Prohibits partial lead and galvanized requiring replacement service line replacement
• Communication with consumers and provision of filters
• The lead trigger level was eliminated, lead action level was lowered to 10 µg/L
• Systems exceeding the lead action level multiple times to provide filters
• Notification of compliance monitoring site households of lead and copper monitoring results within 3 business days
• Changes to compliance monitoring for lead will apply to all systems on the same schedule regardless of system size or current sampling schedule.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: There are still elements of the existing Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) with which water systems must comply. Further explanation of this compliance is available in a fact sheet distributed by EPA in April 2024.

AWWA released the following public statement about the LCRI:

“The release of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) is another important step in our nation’s efforts to reduce exposure to lead from all sources. AWWA is committed to the complete replacement of lead service lines nationwide — in their entirety — as quickly as feasible. We see this as an achievable goal and an opportunity for water utilities to strengthen public trust with the households they serve. …

“As we review the technical details of the lengthy rule, we anticipate there will be challenges to overcome. For example, in many communities, lead service lines are partly on private property and owned by the property owner rather than the utility. The new rule requires water utilities to replace service lines under their ‘control.’ We share EPA’s desire to remove lead service lines in their entirety. However, this portion of the rule needs further explanation to assure water utilities are operating within their legal authority.”