Lead and Copper Revised Rule
The following article was written by Philip Ciesielski, PE, Associate with GBA in the Municipal Market.
The EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) went into effect on December 16, 2021. This revised rule aims to better protect children and communities from the risks of lead exposure by focusing monitoring efforts at schools and childcare facilities, getting the lead out of our nation’s drinking water systems and empowering communities with information through increased public outreach.
Lead, even in low levels in children, can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity, slower growth, hearing problems and anemia. The most vulnerable populations include children under 6 years of age and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Traditionally, water utilities have been charged with providing water that meets regulatory requirements and maintaining their distribution systems up to the point where the consumer takes ownership of their side of the water service line. The service line related LCRR requirements apply to both the utility and the consumer sides of the water service line.
The current version of the LCRR has a deadline of October 16, 2024, for water utilities to:
- Submit a Lead Service Line Inventory with public access to data.
- Systems with a population of 50,000 or more are required to provide searchable, online access to the inventory data.
- Submit a Lead Service Line Replacement Plan.
- Implement a public education and outreach program.
- Comply with new compliance monitoring protocols.
- Implement testing in schools and childcare facilities.
Water utilities have several options for service line inventory and replacement plan requirements compliance through the researching of existing service line, tap records, building codes and permits, review of the state’s inventory database, review of existing GIS and modification of attributes, identification and mapping of childcare facilities and schools and performing targeted service line field investigations. GIS and data analysis tools can be applied to determine the probability of a service line being composed of lead and prioritize field investigations.
GBA has a team of experienced water utility management and engineering professionals who are prepared to provide your utility with the services required to achieve Revised Lead and Copper Rule compliance. In addition, GBA has partnered with a leading financial advisory consultant, various software platform developers and public outreach consultants to provide a comprehensive portfolio of LCRR related services.
To read more about GBA’s Lead and Copper Rule Compliance Services, visit https://www.gbateam.com/markets/municipal/lead-and-copper-rule-compliance/
Current timeline and requirements
