US EPA estimates that 20 percent of lead exposure comes from drinking water. This paper is an evaluation of the effectiveness of the regulations in four urban-core cities.
Results show mixed effectiveness.
Residents in communities that implemented SDWA education were significantly more likely to say that they run the tap in the morning and before drinking. They also reported significantly greater awareness of water company information programs and specific risk information. However, fewer than one in five households remembered the required SDWA education message. Few households had tested their water for lead, and many who did test did not understand the results. Most New Jersey residents do not believe that the EPA-recommended behavior of running the tap in the morning will significantly reduce their lead exposure.