New Lead and Copper Drinking Water Rule Finalized by EPA

EPA has finalized a rulemaking titled the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) to revise the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for lead and copper. The Final Rule will require replacement of all lead service lines (LSLs), and some galvanized service lines, within 10 years of the compliance date set by EPA.

The new regulations expand on a 2021 lead and copper Final Rule that required systems with lead levels above a "trigger level" to replace service lines. EPA is removing the trigger level with the new Rule, citing the "urgency of fully removing all lead service lines". 

The Rule also lowers the lead action level for water systems from 0.015 mg/L to 0.010 mg/L. If a water system exceeds the action level, it is required to inform the public and take action to limit lead exposure. 

The Final Rule also includes provisions to bolster corrosion control treatment requirements, strengthen public awareness about lead in drinking water, and update tap sampling procedures to better protect public health.

The Final Rule will be published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2024. A pre-publication version of the Final Rule is available here. 

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