Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Released

On October 8^th, the EPA announced the final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. The LCRI requires drinking water systems to test for and locate sources of lead in drinking water, replace lead pipes, and reduce exposure during pipe replacement.

The LCRI provides a ten-year window to identify and remove lead pipes. By lowering the action level to 10 µg/L and removing the trigger level implemented in the 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), the final rule will require more water systems to take action to control corrosion and educate communities. The final rule also improves communication about the risks of lead, strengthens tap sampling requirements, and improves on elements of the LCRR framework. For instance, while utilities recently submitted a service line inventory based on the LCRR requirements that did not include connectors, the LCRI requires systems to submit an updated inventory including connectors by the LCRI compliance date in three years.

The EPA also announced $2.6 billion in available funding for lead service line replacement through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and another $35 million in WIIN Act grant funding. Additional funding resources for lead service line replacement are identified on the EPA website.

Water systems must begin complying with the LCRI within three years, in late 2027. This does not remove the 2021 rule requirements such as developing an initial lead service inventory, notifying communities of known or potential lead service lines, and 24-hour Tier 1 public notification when lead levels are found to exceed the action level of 15 µg/L.