Lead and Copper Rule: A Quick Reference Guide
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
The June 1991 LCR was
revised with the following
Technical Amendments:
56 FR 32112, July 15, 1991;
57 FR 28785, June 29, 1992;
59 FR 33860, June 30, 1994;
and the LCR Minor Revisions
65 FR 1950, January 12, 2000.
Overvie
Title
Purpose
General
Description
Utilities
Covered
'w of the Rule
Lead and Copper Rule (LCR)1, 56 FR 26460 - 26564, June 7, 1991
Protect public health by minimizing lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) levels in drinking
water, primarily by reducing water corrosivity. Pb and Cu enter drinking water
mainly from corrosion of Pb and Cu containing plumbing materials.
Establishes action level (AL) of 0.015 mg/L for Pb and 1.3 mg/L for Cu based on
90th percentile level of tap water samples. An AL exceedance is not a violation but
can trigger other requirements that include water quality parameter (WQP)
monitoring, corrosion control treatment (CCT), source water monitoring/treatment,
public education, and lead service line replacement (LSLR).
All community water systems (CWSs) and non-transient, non-community water
systems (NTNCWSs) are subject to the LCR requirements.
Public Health Benefits
Implementation
of the LCR has
resulted in ..
Reduction in risk of exposure to Pb that can cause damage to brain, red
blood cells, and kidneys, especially for young children and pregnant women.
Reduction in risk of exposure to Cu that can cause stomach and
intestinal distress, liver or kidney damage, and complications of Wilson's
disease in genetically predisposed people.
Lead
and Copper Tap Sampling Requirements
> First draw samples must be collected by all CWSs & NTNCWSs at cold water taps in
homes/buildings that are at high risk of Pb/Cu contamination as identified in 40 CFR 141.86(a).
> Number of sample sites is based on system size (see Table 1).
> Systems must conduct monitoring every 6 months unless they qualify for reduced monitoring
(see Table 2).
Size
Category
Large
Medium
Small
Table 1: Pb and Cu Tap and WQP Tap Monitoring
System Size
>100K
50,001 -100K
10,001 -50K
3,301 - 10K
501 - 3,300
101 -500
< 100
Number of Pb/Cu Tap Sample Sites
Standard
100
60
60
40
20
10
5
Reduced
50
30
30
20
10
5
5
Number of WQP Tap Sampling Sites
Standard
25
10
10
3
2
1
1
Table 2: Criteria for Reduced Pb/Cu Tap Monitoring3
Can Monitor . . .
Annually
Triennially
Once every 9
years
Reduced
10
7
7
3
2
1
1
If the System . . .
1. Serves < 50,000 and is < both ALs for 2 consecutive 6-month monitoring periods; or
2. Meets Optimal Water Quality Parameter (OWQP) specifications for
month monitoring periods.
2 consecutive 6-
1. Serves < 50,000 and is < both ALs for 3 consecutive years of monitoring; or
2. Meets OWQP specifications for 3 consecutive years of monitoring;
or
3. Has 90th percentile Pb levels < 0.005 mg/L & 90th percentile Cu level < 0.65 mg/L for
2 consecutive 6-month periods (i.e, accelerated reduced Pb/Cu tap monitoring), or
4. Meets the 40 CFR 141.81(b)(3) criteria.
Serves < 3,300 and meets monitoring waiver criteria found at 40 CFR
141.86(g).
* Samples are collected at reduced number of sites (see Table 1 above).
Treatment Technique and Sampling Requirements
CORROSION CONTROL TREATMENT INSTALLATION: All large systems (except systems that
meet the requirements of 40 CFR 141.81(b)(2) or (3)) must install CCT. Medium and small systems
that exceed either AL must install CCT.
WATER QUALITY PARAMETER MONITORING: All large systems are required to do WQP
monitoring. Medium and small systems that exceed either AL are required to do WQP
monitoring.
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Treatment Techniqu
the AL is Exceeder1
For additional information on
the LCR, call the Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 1-800-426-
4791; visit the EPA web site at
www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/
implement.html; or contact your
State drinking water
representative.
O Water Quality Parameter (WQP) Monitoring
> All systems serving > 50,000 people, and those systems serving < 50,000 people if 90th percentile tap
level > either AL, must take WQP samples during the same monitoring periods as Pb/Cu tap sample.
> Used to determine water corrosivity, and if needed, to help identify type of CCT to be installed and how
CCT should be operated (i.e., establishes OWQP levels).
> WQPs include: pH, alkalinity, calcium, conductivity (initial WQP monitoring only), orthophosphate (if
phosphate-based inhibitor is used); silica (if silicate-based inhibitor is used), and temperature (initial
WQP monitoring only).
> Samples are collected within distribution system (i.e., WQP tap samples), with number of sites based
on system size (see Table 1), and at each entry point to distribution system (EPTDS).
> Systems installing CCT, must conduct follow-up monitoring for 2 consecutive 6-month periods - WQP
tap monitoring is conducted semi-annually; EPTDS monitoring increases to every two weeks.
> After follow-up monitoring, State sets ranges of values for the OWQPs.
> Reduced WQP tap monitoring is available for systems in compliance with OWQPs; Reduced
monitoring does not apply to EPTDS monitoring.
> For systems < 50,000, WQP monitoring is not required whenever 90th percentile tap levels are < both
ALs.
© Public Education (PE)
> Only required if Pb AL is exceeded (no public education is required if only Cu AL exceeded).
t Informs Public Water System's (PWS) customers about health effects, sources, and what can be done
to reduce exposure.
> Includes billing inserts sent directly to customers, pamphlets or brochures distributed to hospitals &
other locations that provide services to pregnant woman & children, and for some CWSs, newspaper
notices and public service announcements (PSAs) submitted to TV/radio stations.
> System must begin delivering materials within 60 days of Pb AL exceedance and continue every 6
months for PSAs and annually for all other forms of delivery for as long as it exceeds Pb AL.
> Different delivery methods and mandatory language for CWSs & NTNCWSs.
> Can discontinue delivery whenever < Pb AL; but must recommence if Pb AL subsequently exceeded.
> PE requirements are in addition to the Public Notification required in 40 CFR Subpart Q.
© Source Water Monitoring and Treatment
> All systems that exceed Pb or Cu AL must collect source water samples to determine contribution from
source water to total tap water Pb/Cu levels and make a source water treatment (SOWT)
recommendation within 6 months of the exceedance.
> One set of samples at each EPTDS is due within 6 months of first AL exceedance.
> If State requires SOWT; system has 24 months to install SOWT
> After follow-up Pb/Cu tap and EPTDS monitoring, State sets maximum permissible levels for Pb & Cu
in source.
O Corrosion Control Treatment
> Required for all large systems (except systems that meet the requirements of 40 CFR 141.81(b)(2) or
(b)(3)) and medium/small systems that exceed either AL. The system shall recommend optimal CCT
within 6 months.
> Corrosion control study required for large systems.
> If State requires study for medium or small systems, it must be completed within 18 months.
> Once State determines type of CCT to be installed, PWS has 24 months to install CCT.
> Systems installing CCT must conduct 2 consecutive 6-months of follow-up monitoring.
> After follow-up Pb/Cu tap & WQP monitoring, State sets OWQPs.
> Small & medium systems can stop CCT steps if < both ALs for 2 consecutive 6-month monitoring
periods.
lfjhe_ system continues to exceed the AL after installing CCT and/or SOWT...
© Lead Service Line (LSL) Monitoring
> Two types of sampling associated with LSL replacement (LSLR):
- Optional - Monitoring from LSL to determine need to replace line. If all Pb samples from line
< 0.015 mg/Lthen LSL does not need to be replaced and counts as replaced line.
- Required - Monitoring if entire LSL is not replaced to determine impact from "partial" LSLR.
Sample is collected that is representative of water in service line that is partially replaced.
> Monitoring only applies to system subject to LSLR.
0 Lead Service Line Replacement
> System must replace LSLs that contribute more than 0.015 mg/Lto tap water levels.
> Must replace 7% of LSL per year; State can require accelerated schedule.
> If only a portion of a LSL is replaced, PWS must:
- Notify customers at least 45 days prior to replacement about the potential for increased Pb levels;
- Collect sample within 72 hours of replacement and mail/post results within 3 days of receipt of
results.
> Systems can discontinue LSLR whenever < Pb AL in tap water for 2 consecutive monitoring periods.
Office of Water (4606)
EPA 816-F-04-009 www.epa.gov/safewater
March 2004
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