The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced the first major update to the agency’s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in nearly 30 years. This historic action strengthens every aspect of the LCR and accelerates actions that reduce lead in drinking water.
The USEPA says the new LCR will better protect children and communities from the risks of lead exposure by testing drinking water at elementary schools and childcare facilities, getting the lead out of our nation’s drinking water, and empowering communities through information. Improvements under the new LCR include:
- Using science-based testing to better locate elevated levels of lead in drinking water.
- Establishing a trigger level to jumpstart mitigation earlier and in more communities.
- Driving more and complete lead service line replacements.
- Requiring testing in elementary schools and childcare facilities.
- Requiring water systems to identify and make public the locations of lead service lines.
The pre-publication version of the updated LCR can be accessed here. The new LCR will go into effect 60 days after it is published on the National Register.
For more information on the new LCR, visit the USEPA website.