Lead and Copper Rule and our Water System Line Inventories

Established in 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) was designed to control lead and copper in drinking water. The rule requires water systems to test water at customer taps and take action if lead or copper levels exceed set limits. The action level for lead was set at 15 parts per billion (ppb) and copper at 1.3 parts per million (ppm). When action levels are exceeded, systems must address corrosion issues and to notify the public of lead and copper they may have been exposed to. It also required systems to replace lines in their control.

In 2021, the EPA implemented the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which introduced new requirements for public water systems. These included developing an initial inventory of service line materials, notifying customers who are or may be served by a lead service line, and issuing immediate (Tier 1) public notifications when lead levels exceed 15 ppb. Water systems were required to meet these requirements by October 16, 2024.

In October 2024, the EPA finalized the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). While earlier rules focused primarily on monitoring lead levels and taking action after problems were identified, the LCRI shifts the emphasis toward prevention. Through this regulation, water systems are required to identify and replace all lead service lines within 10 years, rather than managing lead risks indefinitely. The rule also strengthens testing requirements, lowers the trigger for action from 15 to 10 ppb when lead is detected, and expands public notification for further transparency and frequency, and finding pipe locations for service inventories and replacement plans. Please see the links below for additional information on the Lead and Copper Rule.

In accordance with federal requirements, Franklin County Sanitary Engineering has created a service line inventory to help residents identify the materials used in their water service lines and stay informed about potential lead risks. Please click on the inventory of the water system that serves your area further information on service line material for a particular address.