Lead and Copper Rule: A Quick Reference Guide

Ov erv iew o f the Ru le

T ) itle Lead and Copper Rule (LCR 1, 1 56 FR 26460 - 26564, June 7, 199

Purpose

Protect public health by minimizing lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) levels in drinking

water, primarily by reducing water corrosivity. Pb and Cu enter drinking water

mainly from corrosion of Pb and Cu containing plumbing materials.

General

Description

Establishes action level (AL) of 0.015 mg/L for Pb and 1.3 mg/L for Cu based on

90th percentile level of tap water samples. An AL exceedance is not a violation but

can trigger other requirements that include water quality parameter (WQP)

monitoring, corrosion control treatment (CCT), source water monitoring/treatment,

public education, and lead service line replacement (LSLR).

Utilities

Covered

All community water systems (CWSs) and non-transient, non-community water

systems (NTNCWSs) are subject to the LCR requirements.

P u bli c H ealth Benefits

Implementation

of the LCR has

resulted in . . .

 Reduction in risk of exposure to Pb that can cause damage to brain, red

blood cells, and kidneys, especially for young children and pregnant women.

 Reduction in risk of exposure to Cu that can cause stomach and

intestinal distress, liver or kidney damage, and complications of Wilson's

disease in genetically predisposed people.

Treatment Techniqu e and Sampling Requ i rements

CORROSION CONTROL TREATMENT INSTALLATION: All large systems (except systems that

meet the requirements of 40 CFR 141.81(b)(2) or (3)) must install CCT. Medium and small systems

that exceed either AL must install CCT.

WATER QUALITY PARAMETER MONITORING: All large systems are required to do WQP

monitoring. Medium and small systems that exceed either AL are required to do WQP

monitoring.

1

The June 1991 LCR was

revised with the following

Technical Amendments:

56 FR 32112, July 15, 1991;

57 FR 28785, June 29, 1992;

59 FR 33860, June 30, 1994;

and the LCR Minor Revisions

65 FR 1950, January 12, 2000.

Lead and Co pper Tap Sam pling Requ i r em ents

 First draw samples must be collected by all CWSs & NTNCWSs at cold water taps in

homes/buildings that are at high risk of Pb/Cu contamination as identified in 40 CFR 141.86(a).

 Number of sample sites is based on system size (see Table 1).

 Systems must conduct monitoring every 6 months unless they qualify for reduced monitoring

(see Table 2).

Table 1: Pb and Cu Tap and WQP Tap Monitoring

Size

Category System Size

Number of Pb/Cu Tap Sample Sites Number of WQP Tap Sampling Sites

Standard Reduced Standard Reduced

Large

> 100K 1 0 00 5 52 01

50,001-100K 6 0 0 3 01 7

Medium

10,001 - 50K 6 0 0 3 01 7

3,301 - 10K 4 0 0 2 33

Small

501 - 3,300 2 0 0 1 22

101 - 500 15 11 0

# 100 55 1 1

Table 2: Criteria for Reduced Pb/Cu Tap Monitoringa

Can Monitor . . . If the System . . .

Annually

1. Serves # 50,000 and is # both ALs for 2 consecutive 6-month monitoring periods; or

2. Meets Optimal Water Quality Parameter (OWQP) specifications for 2 consecutive 6-

month monitoring periods.

Triennially

1. Serves # 50,000 and is # both ALs for 3 consecutive years of monitoring; or

2. Meets OWQP specifications for 3 consecutive years of monitoring; or

3. Has 90th percentile Pb levels # 0.005 mg/L & 90th percentile Cu level # 0.65 mg/L for

2 consecutive 6-month periods (i.e, accelerated reduced Pb/Cu tap monitoring), or

4. Meets the 40 CFR 141.81(b)(3) criteria.

Once every 9

years Serves # 3,300 and meets monitoring waiver criteria found at 40 CFR 141.86(g).

a Samples are collected at reduced number of sites (see Table 1 above).
IOCs1

For additional information on

the LCR, call the Safe Drinking

Water Hotline at 1-800-426-

4791; visit the EPA web site at

www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/

implement.html; or contact your

State drinking water

representative.

Office of Water (4606) EPA 816-F-04-009 www.epa.gov/safewater March 2004

Nitrate Nitrite Radionuclides nuclides Asbestos Asbestos

Tr eatm ent Techniqu e and Sam pling Requ i r em ents if

the AL is Exceeded

Water Quality Parameter (WQP) Monitoring

 All systems serving > 50,000 people, and those systems serving # 50,000 people if 90th percentile tap

level > either AL, must take WQP samples during the same monitoring periods as Pb/Cu tap sample.

 Used to determine water corrosivity, and if needed, to help identify type of CCT to be installed and how

CCT should be operated (i.e., establishes OWQP levels).

 WQPs include: pH, alkalinity, calcium, conductivity (initial WQP monitoring only), orthophosphate (if

phosphate-based inhibitor is used); silica (if silicate-based inhibitor is used), and temperature (initial

WQP monitoring only).

 Samples are collected within distribution system (i.e., WQP tap samples), with number of sites based

on system size (see Table 1), and at each entry point to distribution system (EPTDS).

 Systems installing CCT, must conduct follow-up monitoring for 2 consecutive 6-month periods – WQP

tap monitoring is conducted semi-annually; EPTDS monitoring increases to every two weeks.

 After follow-up monitoring, State sets ranges of values for the OWQPs.

 Reduced WQP tap monitoring is available for systems in compliance with OWQPs; Reduced

monitoring does not apply to EPTDS monitoring.

 For systems # 50,000, WQP monitoring is not required whenever 90th percentile tap levels are # both

ALs.

Public Education (PE)

 Only required if Pb AL is exceeded (no public education is required if only Cu AL exceeded).

 Informs Public Water System's (PWS) customers about health effects, sources, and what can be done

to reduce exposure.

 Includes billing inserts sent directly to customers, pamphlets or brochures distributed to hospitals &

other locations that provide services to pregnant woman & children, and for some CWSs, newspaper

notices and public service announcements (PSAs) submitted to TV/radio stations.

 System must begin delivering materials within 60 days of Pb AL exceedance and continue every 6

months for PSAs and annually for all other forms of delivery for as long as it exceeds Pb AL.

 Different delivery methods and mandatory language for CWSs & NTNCWSs.

 Can discontinue delivery whenever # Pb AL; but must recommence if Pb AL subsequently exceeded.

 PE requirements are in addition to the Public Notification required in 40 CFR Subpart Q.

Source Water Monitoring and Treatment

 All systems that exceed Pb or Cu AL must collect source water samples to determine contribution from

source water to total tap water Pb/Cu levels and make a source water treatment (SOWT)

recommendation within 6 months of the exceedance.

 One set of samples at each EPTDS is due within 6 months of first AL exceedance.

 If State requires SOWT; system has 24 months to install SOWT.

 After follow-up Pb/Cu tap and EPTDS monitoring, State sets maximum permissible levels for Pb & Cu

in source.

Corrosion Control Treatment

 Required for all large systems (except systems that meet the requirements of 40 CFR 141.81(b)(2) or

(b)(3)) and medium/small systems that exceed either AL. The system shall recommend optimal CCT

within 6 months.

 Corrosion control study required for large systems.

 If State requires study for medium or small systems, it must be completed within 18 months.

 Once State determines type of CCT to be installed, PWS has 24 months to install CCT.

 Systems installing CCT must conduct 2 consecutive 6-months of follow-up monitoring.

 After follow-up Pb/Cu tap & WQP monitoring, State sets OWQPs.

 Small & medium systems can stop CCT steps if # both ALs for 2 consecutive 6-month monitoring

periods.

If the system continues to exceed the AL after installing CCT and/or SOWT...

Lead Service Line (LSL) Monitoring

 Two types of sampling associated with LSL replacement (LSLR):

- Optional - Monitoring from LSL to determine need to replace line. If all Pb samples from line

# 0.015 mg/L then LSL does not need to be replaced and counts as replaced line.

- Required - Monitoring if entire LSL is not replaced to determine impact from "partial" LSLR. Sample is collected that is representative of water in service line that is partially replaced.

 Monitoring only applies to system subject to LSLR.

Lead Service Line Replacement

 System must replace LSLs that contribute more than 0.015 mg/L to tap water levels.

 Must replace 7% of LSL per year; State can require accelerated schedule.

 If only a portion of a LSL is replaced, PWS must:

- Notify customers at least 45 days prior to replacement about the potential for increased Pb levels;

- Collect sample within 72 hours of replacement and mail/post results within 3 days of receipt of

results.

 Systems can discontinue LSLR whenever # Pb AL in tap water for 2 consecutive monitoring periods.

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