Ground Water and Drinking Water

Drinking Water Action Plan: Priority Area 6

To strengthen implementation of the current Lead and Copper Rule and improve public health protection through updates to the rule.

While EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule has resulted in substantial reductions of lead and copper in drinking water, it is now 25 years old and both the rule and its implementation are in need of a substantial overhaul.
The rule is one of the most challenging for primacy agencies and utilities to implement and there is a clear opportunity to improve the public health protections it affords.

Continue to engage in enhanced oversight activities.
Provide information to utilities and local communities on best practices, costs, and mechanisms for lead service line replacement.
Enhance training and technical assistance to primacy agencies on Lead and Copper Rule implementation.
Update and improve EPA’s Training, Testing and Telling (3Ts) guide for protection of drinking water in schools.
Develop proposed revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule as outlined in EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions White Paper.
Continue enhanced engagement with partners and stakeholders on the development of proposed revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule.