Protecting Your Community: The Revised Lead and Copper Rule

Lead and copper pipes within public water systems pose a significant danger, potentially causing health issues due to lead exposure. The EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule aims to reduce lead exposure from drinking water and the first compliance date is less than one year away.

Initially, the EPA is requiring all public water systems to complete a Service Line Inventory by October 16, 2024. The Service Line Inventory will identify lead, galvanized lines requiring replacement (GRR), non-lead lines, and lines with an unknown status. Generating organized and meaningful data requires a systematic approach to gathering data from various sources, including record plans and service cards, GIS data and billing records, and other measures including private property inspection.

The Service Line Inventory must be made accessible to the public by the October 16, 2024 deadline, and households with services identified as lead, GRR, or unknown status must be notified within 30 days of the inventory completion.

Failure to comply with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule can result in penalties and enforcement actions.

The U.S. government, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is offering up to $15 billion in funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for Service Line Inventory and lead line replacement. Small and disadvantaged communities can access a significant portion of this funding as grants, providing crucial financial support.

BETA has been instrumental in aiding communities like Warwick, RI, and Middleborough, MA, in this critical work. Contact us today for guidance and compliance assistance and explore the available funding options for your water system’s future.