**GAO-05-344**                      Published: Mar 31, 2005. Publicly Released: May 05, 2005.                  

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## Highlights

Media reports on elevated lead in the District of Columbia's drinking water raised concern about how local and federal agencies are carrying out their responsibilities. The Lead and Copper Rule requires water systems to protect drinking water from lead. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Washington Aqueduct treats and sells water to the District Water and Sewer Authority (WASA), which delivers it to District residents. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Region III Office oversees these agencies. GAO examined (1) what agencies implementing the rule in the District are doing to improve their coordination and reduce lead levels, (2) the extent to which WASA and other agencies are identifying populations at greatest risk of exposure to lead in drinking water and reducing their exposure, (3) how other drinking water systems that exceed EPA's action level for lead conduct public education, and (4) the state of research on lead exposure and how it applies to drinking water.

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## Topics

Natural Resources and Environment

Consumer educationFederal regulationsGovernment information disseminationHazardous substancesHealth hazardsInteragency relationsMunicipal governmentsPerformance measuresPotable waterPublic healthRegulatory agenciesWater pollution controlWaterborne diseases