United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 570/9-91-400
January 1995
5 EPA Lead and Copper Rule
F-A-C-T-S-H-E-E-T
<4Lead may
leach into the
water from
some kinds
of home
plumbing."
MCLG
(mg/L)
Action Level
(mg/L)
The Lead and Copper Rule was published in the Federal Register on June 7,
1991. It became effective on December 7, 1992. This rule requires treatment when
lead and/or copper in drinking water exceed certain levels.
Lead enters drinking water mainly from the corrosion of lead-containing house-
hold plumbing. Since lead and copper contamination generally occurs after water
has left the water system, the best way for the water system operator to find out if
customer water is contaminated is to test water that has come from a household
faucet. This type of contamination can be prevented by controlling the corrosive-
ness of the water supply. If corrosion control is not sufficient, lead-containing
materials within the control of the water system (such as lead service lines) may
have to be replaced. At no time will a system have to replace a homeowner's pipes.
Action Levels
Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG): Water systems
should try to supply water with no lead and with no more than 1.3 milli-
grams of copper per liter (mg/L). These are non-enforceable health goals.
Lead
Copper
0
1.3
0.015
1.3
Action Levels: When the concentration of lead or copper reaches the
action level in ten percent or more of the required samples, the water
system is required to carry out the water treatment requirements of the
rule. These enforceable treatment requirements are described below.
Monitoring Requirements
Lead/copper monitoring at high-risk homes.
Water systems must complete a materials evaluation of their distribution
system and/or review other information to target homes that are at high risk of
lead/copper (Pb/Cu) contamination. Monitoring is to be conducted at the tap in
these homes, with the number of tap-sampling sites based on the population
served. One sample is required at each site.
Monitoring Requirements
Number of Initial Sampling Sites
System
size
# at home
taps for
Pb/Cu
# within
dist. for
WQPs
>100,000 100
10,001-100,000 60
3,301-10,000 40
501-3,300 20
101-500 10
<100 5
25
10
3
2
1
1
Additional monitoring for other water quality parameters
(WQPs) affecting corrosion is required to optimize treatment and
determine compliance with State lead/copper standards. Two types of
systems must perform this monitoring under the following conditions:
• Large systems serving more than 50,000 persons, regardless of
the leaoVcopper levels in tap samples.
• Smaller systems serving less than 50,000 persons, if either
action level is exceeded in tap samples.
Two types of sampling sites are specified for this purpose:
* Within the distribution system, with the number of sites
based on population served (sites may be same as for colif-
orm sampling). Two samples are required from each site.
• Two samples at each entry point to the distribution system.
Public Education Fact Sheet Series
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Monitoring Frequencies.
Initially, systems must collect home tap samples for lead and
copper analysis and samples for other water quality parameters
(WQPs) every six months. In systems that are required to install
corrosion control treatment, follow-up samples for other WQPs
must be taken from within the distribution system every six
months, and from entry points to the distribution system every
two weeks. Both the number of sampling sites and the frequency
may be reduced if the action level is met or the system maintains
optimal treatment.
Water Treatment Requirements
Monitoring Requirements
Frequency of Sampling
laiTOH
Monitoring
Period
Initial
After corrosion
treatment
Reduced
-Conditional
-Final
Home
taps
6 mo.
6 mo.
lyr.
3yr.
WQPs
within at entry
dist. to dist.
6 mo. 6 mo.
6 mo. i 2 wk.
6 mo. 2 wk.
3 yr. 2 wk.
Four types of action are required to remedy high lead levels, and two are
required for high levels of copper. Once a system finds that more than 10 percent of
all tap monitoring results exceed the action levels, the system must begin to carry
out the first three actions.
O Corrosion control treatment. Systems are required to first monitor, and
depending on its size, conduct corrosion control studies and recommend a
corrosion control treatment method to the State. Upon the approval of the
State, treatment is to be installed and demonstrated to be effective according
to criteria set by the State. Treatment options are pH and alkalinity adjust-
ment, calcium adjustment and silica or phosphate-based corrosion inhibition.
© Source Water Treatment. Systems must first monitor their source water for
the presence of lead/copper, and, if necessary, recommend a treatment method
to the State. Treatment options are ion exchange, lime softening, reverse
osmosis and coagulation/filtration. Once the State approves a treatment,
systems will have 2 years to install it and 1 more year to conduct follow-up
monitoring. If treatment is not required, or if the treated water does not
exceed the maximum lead/copper levels permitted by the State, source water
monitoring will be synchronized with the system's other monitoring schedules.
© Public Education. Public education materials developed by EPA will inform
customers about the health effects of lead, and explain what they can do at
home to reduce their exposure. The system must begin delivering the
materials within 60 days of the lead action level
exceedance. The materials include public service
announcements to be submitted periodically to televi-
sion and radio stations, and other pamphlets to be
delivered directly to customers, newspapers, hospitals
etc. This step is not required if the water system
exceeds only the copper action level.
IF a system continues to exceed the lead action level
after installing optimal corrosion control and source water
treatment, the fourth action must be taken:
O Lead Service Line Replacement. Lead service lines
that contribute more than 0.015 mg/L to tap water
lead levels must be replaced. A S3^stem must replace
seven percent of its lead lines each year, and must
replace all lines within 15 years.
For More Information
Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at: 1-800-426-4791.
Analytical
Requirements
Tap Samples
Lead
Copper
WOPS
pH
Alkalinity
Calcium
Conductivity
Orthophosphate*
Silica **
Temperature
* Only if a phosphate-
based inhibitor is added.
**Only if a silicate-based
inhibitor is added.
Compliance Deadlines
NOTE: assumes action levels exceeded in initial monitoring
Action
System Size
Large Medium Small
>50K 3,301-50K <3,300
Begin monitoring
Complete treatment study
(if required by State)
Recommend treatment to State
• study not required- N/A
• study required- Jul94
Complete treatment installation
• study not required- N/A
• study required- Jan97
Complete follow-up monitoring
• study not required- N/A
• study required- Jan98
Jan92 Jul92 ; Jul93
Jul94 Jul95 Jul96
Jan93
Jul95
Jul96
Jan98
Jan94
Jul96
Jan98
Jan99
Public Education Fact Sheet Series
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