EPA Announces Final National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvements (LCRI)

On October 7, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed the long-awaited final National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Improvements (LCRI). With these improvements, the EPA is strengthening their commitment to address the individuals and communities that have been disproportionately impacted by lead in their drinking water.

The LCRI will aid in the progression of the EPA’s goal to remove all lead service lines, in order to protect the public health of all affected individuals. It is important to know the differences between the final LCRI and the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) of 2021.

Of major importance to drinking water systems, the LCRI calls for achieving 100 percent lead pipe removal within 10 years. The LCRR baseline lead pipe inventory deadline of October 16, 2024 stands for the inventory of lead service lines (LSLs), galvanized requiring replacement service lines (GRR), and unknown service lines. Additionally, the LCRI requires that lead connectors must also be included in the baseline inventory, as well as all non-lead service lines. All unknown service lines must be identified by the mandatory replacement deadline of 10 years (or less).

The baseline inventory must be updated annually and must be made publicly available, as called for in the LCRR.

Previously, under LCRR, the development of a replacement plan was not required until the system exceeded the lead 90^th percentile (P90) trigger level. Under the final LCRI, all systems with at least one lead, GRR, or unknown service line must develop a replacement plan regardless of the P90 level. Furthermore, the public must be informed about the replacement program (new to the LCRI). Lead service lines are to be replaced at an average rate of 10 percent per year, with unknown service lines that are identified taken into account.

The LCRI also includes changes to the tap sampling protocol, and includes stronger provisions for public education and public notification at the reduced lead action level of 0.010 mg/L. Drinking water systems are now required to take measures to reduce the lead level in drinking water once lead exceedances of 0.010 mg/L occur.

New to the LCRI, if any customer with a lead, GRR, or unknown line requests tap sampling, the service must comply. If a water system has more than three lead exceedances, customers must be provided with filters certified to reduce lead.

Along with the final ruling was the announcement that Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding will be providing $26 billion that can be used to meet the lead requirements. The experts at Walden are available to help you complete your lead/GRR/unknown pipe inventory and maintain compliance under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, as well as for your grant writing needs. If you need assistance keeping your community’s drinking water safe, please contact Walden today at 516-980-5508!

To learn about this topic in more detail, read our following blogs:

EPA Announces Development of Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Improvements

Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) for Drinking Water

Lead and Copper Rule Updates Still Expected in 2020

Paused: EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revisions