Fact Sheet:
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations for Lead
and Copper
May 1991
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington; DC
Printed on Recycled Paper
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Summary
These regulations will:
MCLG Action Level
(mg/L) (mg/Lr
Lead 0 0.015
Copper 1.3 1.3
'Measured in 90th percentile
at consumers' taps
• Establish Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs)
of zero for lead and 1.3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for
copper.
• Establish a treatment technique requirement for lead that includes:
1) optimal corrosion control treatment,
2) source water treatment,
3) public education, and
4) lead service line replacement.
• Establish a treatment technique requirement for
copper that includes:
1) optimal corrosion control treatment, and
2X source water treatment.
• The treatment technique requirements are triggered by exceedances of the lead action
level of 0.015 mg/L or the copper action level of 1.3 mg/L measured in the 90th
percentile.
These final rulemakings establish:
• Two additional National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs), bringing the
total to 58.
• Two additional inorganic standards, bringing the total to 13.
These rules also include provisions for:
• Analytical methods and laboratory performance requirements;
• Best Available Technologies (BAT) for complying with the treatment technique
requirements;
• Mandatory health effects language to be used by systems when notifying the public of
violations;
• System recordkeeping and reporting requirements; and
• State recordkeeping, reporting and primacy requirements.
Lead and Copper Fact Sheft - \
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Health Effects and Sources of Lead and Copper
Contaminant
Low Level Health Effects
Sources in
Drinking Water
Lead
Children:
Altered physical and mental develop-
ment; interference with growth; deficits
in IQ, attention span, and hearing;
interference with heme synthesis
Women:
Increased blood pressure; shorter
gestational period
Men:
Increased blood pressure
Corrosion of:
Lead solder and brass faucets
and fixtures
Lead service lines (20% of public
water sytems)
Source water (1% of systems)
Copper
Stomach and intestinal distress;
Wilson's Disease
Corrosion of:
Interior household and building
pipes
Source water (1% of systems)
Public Water System (PWS) and Homeowner Plumbing
Drinking Water
Treatment Plant
•Pocabto Sourcw <* Load
-Pip.
-SoWar
- araat Fining
- Sanica Man (rarary)
2—Lead and Conner Fact Sheet
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Regulatory Impact
Benefits
• These regulations will:
- reduce the exposure of approximately 130 million people to lead in drinking water.
- result in an additional 570,000 children having their blood lead level reduced to below 10
micrograms per deciliter (jig/dl).
• Nationwide health benefits when translated into avoided medical costs are estimated to be:
- between $2.8 and $4.3 billion per year for corrosion control and source water treatment.
- between $70 and $240 million per year for lead service line replacement.
• Nationwide material benefits attributable to reduced corrosion of water distribution systems
and household plumbing systems are estimated to be $500 million per year.
Costs
• Capital costs are estimated to be between $2.9 and $7.6 billion. . .
• Operation and maintenance costs are estimated to be $240 million per year.
• Total annualized costs are estimated to be between $500 and $790 million per year.
• For large systems (serving >50,000 persons), corrosion control treatment required by this rule
is estimated to cost $1 per household per year.
• For smaller systems (serving < 50,000 persons), corrosion control treatment is estimated to
cost $2 to $20 per household per year.
• Total annualized costs for lead service line replacement are estimated to be $80 to $370
million per year.
• Tap water monitoring will be required for 79,000 community and nontransient non-
community water systems.
• Monitoring costs are estimated to be:
- $40 million per year nationwide.
- $0.10 per household per year for large systems and less than $3 per household per year
for smaller systems.
• State implementation costs are estimated to be $40 million per year.
Lead and Copper Fact Sheet—3
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Treatment Technique Requirements
Corrosion Control Treatment
• Systems must collect tap water samples for lead and copper from high risk homes.
Corrosion Control Studies
• Systems triggered into the corrosion control treatment requirements may first have to conduct studies to
compare the effectiveness of:
pH and alkalinity adjustment (reduces the acidity of the water);
- calcium adjustment (promotes the formation of protective coatings inside pipes and plumbing); and
- addition of phosphate or silica-based corrosion inhibitor (forms protective coating inside pipes and
plumbing).
• All large water systems (serving >50,000 people) are required to conduct such studies.
• Small and medium-size water systems (serving £50,000 people) that exceed the lead or copper action level
are required to first submit a recommendation for optimal corrosion control treatment to the State.
• The State will either approve the recommended treatment or require the installation of an alternative
treatment. The State may, as an alternative, require small and medium-size water systems to conduct the
corrosion control treatment studies described above.
• Any system that conducts corrosion control studies must recommend an optimal corrosion control trea tment
to the State on the basis of study results and monitoring data.
• States will either approve a system's recommendation or designate an alternative treatment as optimal.
Corrosion Control Treatment
• Once treatment is specified by the State, systems will have 24 months to install optimal corrosion control
treatment and 12 months to collect follow-up samples.
• States will assign values for a set of water quality parameters that constitute optimal corrosion control
treatment:
- PH;
- alkalinity;
calcium, when carbonate stabilization is used;
- orthophoshate, when an inhibitor with a phosphate compound is used; and
- silica, when an inhibitor with a silicate compound is used.
• A system must continue to operate within the water quality parameters established by the State.
Source Water Treatment
• All public water systems that exceed the tap water lead or copper action level must collect source water
samples and submit the data with a treatment recommendation to the State.
• States may specify one of the following treatments, or an alternative treatment at least as effective, for the
system to install: 1) ion exchange, 2) reverse osmosis, 3) lime softening or 4) coagulation/filtration.
• Once treatment is specified by the State, systems will have 24 months to install source water treatment and
12 months to collect follow-up source water samples.
• States will review follow-up source water monitoring results and assign maximum permissible lead and
copper concentrations in source water entering the distribution system.
• Systems must continue to deliver water to all entry points in the distribution system that does not
the maximum permissible lead and copper concentrations established by the State.
• Source water monitoring will be standardized to 3/6/9 year cycles after treatment is installed or
State determines no treatment is necessary.
4—Lead and Copper Fact Sheet
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Treatment Technique Requirements
Public Education
• Informs the public about the adverse health effects of lead and explains the steps people can take in their
homes to reduce their exposure to lead in drinking water (i.e., flushing the tap; cooking with cold water
rather than hot; checking for lead solder in new plumbing; and testing their water for lead).
• All public water systems exceeding the lead action level must deliver the EPA-developed public education
program to their customers within 60 days.
• Every 12 months, systems must deliver:
- bill stuffers to their customers and brochures to all institutions in the community frequented by
women and children (i.e., health departments, hospitals, clinics, etc.), and
the public education material to the editorial departments of major newspapers serving the
community.
• Every 6 months, systems must submit a public service announcement on lead in drinking water to major
television and radio stations serving the community.
• Every 12 months, non-transient non-community water systems must post information notices in each
building served by the system and deliver brochures to all of the system's customers.
• The public education program must be delivered by a water system for as long as the system exceeds the
lead action level.
Lead Service Line Replacement
• All public water systems that continue to exceed the lead action level after installing optimal corrosion
control treatment and source water treatment must replace lead service lines that contribute in excess of
15 parts per billion (ppb) to total tap water lead levels.
• A system must replace seven percent of its lead lines each year or demonstrate that the lines not replaced
contribute less than 15 ppb of lead to drinking water at the tap.
• Asystemmustreplacetheentireleadservicelineunlessitcan demonstrate thatitdoesnotcontroltheentire
line. Water systems must offer to replace the owner's portion of the service line.
• A system that exceeds the lead action level after installing optimal corrosion control treatment and sou rce
water treatment has 15 years to replace all lead service lines.
Lead and Copper Fact Sheet—5
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Tap Water Monitoring
Lead and Copper
Start Dates for Monitoring
January 1992 Large Systems (>50,000)
July 1992 Medium-size Systems
(3,300 to z 50,000)
July 1993 Small Systems (£ 3,300)
Monitoring Period
1 monitoring period is
equivalent to 6 months
(2 per calendar year, i.e.
January to June and
July to December)
Sample Site Location
• Tap water samples must be collected at high risk locations:
- homes with lead solder installed after 1982,
- homes with lead pipes,
- homes with lead service lines.
Sample Collection Methods
• First flush tap water samples must stand motionless for at least six hours before the
samples are collected.
• One liter of water must be drawn from the cold water kitchen or bathroom tap.
• Systems may collect samples or enlist residents to collect samples. Residents fill the
container supplied by the water system according to directions and leave the container
for the system to pick up.
6—Lead and Copper Fact Sheet
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Tap Water Monitoring
Lead and Copper
Number and Frequency
Base Monitoring:
• All public water systems are required to collect one sample for lead and copper analysis
from the following number of sites during each six month monitoring period.
Table 1. Tap Sampling for Lead and Copper |
System Size
(Population)
>1 00.000
10,001 to 100,000
3.301 to 10.000
501 to 3.300
101 to 500
<100
No. of Sampling Sites
(Initial Base Monitoring)
100
60
40
20
10
5
No. of Sampling Sites
(Reduced Monitoring)
50
30
20
10
5
5
Reduced Monitoring:
• All public water systems that meet the lead and copper action levels or maintain
optimal corrosion control treatment for two consecutive six month monitoring periods
may reduce the number of tap water sampling sites (see Table 1) and their collection
frequency to once per year.
• All public water systems that meet the lead and copper action level, or maintain optimal
corrosion control treatment, for three consecutive years may reduce the tap water
sampling sites (see Table 1) and their collection frequency to once every three years.
Lead and Copper Fact Sheet—7
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Monitoring
Water Quality Parameters (other than lead and copper)
• In addition to lead and copper, all large water systems, and those small and medium-
size systems that exceed the lead or copper action level, will be required to monitor for
the following water quality parameters:
- PH,
- alkalinity,
- calcium,
- conductivity,
- orthophosphate,
- silica, and
water temperature.
• These parameters are used to identify optimal treatment, and once treatment is
installed, to determine whether a system remains in compliance with the rule.
• Systems are required to maintain water quality parameters within State specifed ranges.
• Systems will have to monitor water quality parameters at two separate locations:
- representative taps throughout the distribution system (systems can use
total coliform sampling sites), and
- entry points to the distribution system.
Base Monitoring:
• All large water systems (>50,000) and those small and medium-size water systems
(£50,000) that exceed the lead or copper action level must collect two tap samples for
each applicable water quality parameter from the following number of sites during each
six month monitoring perk
Table 2. Tap Sampling for Water Quality Parameters 1
System Size
(Population)
> 100,000
10,001 to 100.000
3,301 to 10,000
501 to 3,300
101 to 500
<100
No. of Tap Sampling Sites
(Initial Base Monitoring)
25
10
3
2
1
1
No. of Tap Sampling Sites
(Reduced Monitoring)
10
7
3
2
1
1
8—Lead and Copper Fact Sheet
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Monitoring
Water Quality Parameters (other than lead and copper)
• All large water systems, and those small and medium-size water systems that exceed
the lead or copper action level, must collect one sample for each applicable water
quality parameter at each entry point to the distribution system every two weeks.
• All large water systems, and those small and medium-size systems that exceed the lead
or copper action level, after installing optimal corrosion control treatment must
continue to collect:
- two samples for each applicable water quality parameter at each of the
sampling sites specified above every six months, and
- one sample for each applicable water quality parameter at each entry point to
the distribution system every two weeks.
Reduced Monitoring:
• All water systems that maintain State-specified water quality parameters reflecting .
optimal corrosion control for two consecutive six month monitoring periods may
reduce the number of tap samples collected (see Table 2) during each six month
monitoring period.
• All water systems that maintain State-specified water quality parameters reflecting
optimal corrosion control for three consecutive years may reduce the number of tap
samples collected (see Table 2) and the frequency with which they are collected to once
per year.
and Copper Fact Sheet—9
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Monitoring Schedules
Lead and Copper Monitoring
Monitoring Period
Initial
Monitoring
After Installation of
Corrosion Control
After State Specifies
Parameter Values for
Optimal
Corrosion Control
Reduced
Monitoring
Parameters '
Lead and Copper
Lead and Copper
Lead and Copper
Lead and Copper
Lead and Copper
Location
Targeted high risk
Interior taps
Targeted high risk
Interior taps
Targeted high risk
Interior taps
Targeted high risk
Interior taps
Targeted high risk
Interior taps
Frequency
Every six months'2
Two consecutive six month
monitoring periods
Two consecutive six month
monitoring periods3
Once every year*
Once every three years
' Large systems collect tap water samples for two-six month monitoring periods before conducting comparative corrosion control treatment studies.
1 Small and medium-size systems collect tap water samples tor lead and copper until they exceed the lead or copper action level and are triggered into the
treatment technique requirement.
1 Systems meeting the lead and copper action level, or maintaining optimal corrosion control treatment specified by the State, for two consecutive six month
monitoring periods may reduce tap water sampling to once per year and collect the reduced number of sample* indicated in Table 1 on page 7.
' Systems meeting the lead and copper action level, or maintaining optimal corrosion control treatment specified by the State, for three consecutive years may
reduce-tap water sampling to once every three years and collect the reduced number of samples indicated in Table 1 on page 7.
10—Lead and Copper Fact Sheet
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Monitoring Schedules
Water Quality Parameter Monitoring
Monitoring Period
Initial
Monitoring
After Installation of
Corrosion Control
After State Specifies
Parameter Values for
Optimal
Corrosion Control
Reduced
Monitoring
Parameters 1
pH. afcalinity.
orthophosphate or silica *,
calcium, conductivity,
temperature
pH, alkalinity*
orthophosphate or silica *,
calcium *
pH, alkalinity dosage rate
and concentration (if
ahalinity adjusted as part of
corrosion control), inhibitor
dosage rate and inhibitor
residual4
pH. alkalinity,
orthophosphate or silica *,
calcium*
pH, akalinity dosage rate
and concentration (if
alkalinity adjusted as part of
corrosion control), inhibitor
dosage rate and inhibitor
residual *
pH, aJkalinity,
orthophosphate or silica *.
calcium1
pH, alkalinity dosage rate
and concentration (if
akalinrty adjusted as part of
corrosion control), inhibitor
dosage rate and inhibitor
residual 4
Location
Taps and at entry point(s) to
distribution system
Taps
Entry point(s) to distribution
system
Taps
Entry point(s) to distribution
system
Taps"
Entry point(s) to distribution
system
Frequency
Every six months
Every six months
Biweekly
'";i
Every six months
Biweekly
Every six months
Biweekly
'Small and madlun>toiysi»rnsh«v»BfnoniW tor watar quality pararri^^
action lav*. Urg* systems must moniBr water quality parameters during each mortaring period.
' OrthopnMpnatt mutt bo measured only when an inhetor containing • phosphate compound i« uaati. Silca must b* measured only when an inhibitor
containing slteais compound It uaad.
* Caldum must b* ma««ur«d only when calcium carbonate stablzation » us«d at part of corrosion control.
(oflhopr»sp^
sion control natmtnt tpaciE«d by tr* Stat* tor two conswutivt six-month monitoring psriods may r*duo» tap water
• Systams maintaining optimal
sampling of waiar quality paramaurs B cnoa par year and collect th« rsducad numb»r ol samplas indicatad in Tabt« 2 on paga 8.
• Systams mawtartng opdmal corrosion control tr»aim«nt spocified by irw Statt tor thr««coris«eutv«y««njniayr«duc« tap waiar sampling of waarparametars
B onoa awary thr*« ywars and cotoct ina reduced numbsr of samples indicated in Tabts 2 on paga 8.
Lead and Copper Ffect Sheet— 11
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Regulatory Schedule for Large Systems
(>50,OOOFfeople)
Data
Activities (system activities denoted by j>)
May 1991
January 1992
November 1992
January 1993
July 1994
January 1995
January 1997
January 1998
July 1998
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) for lead and
copper promulgated
m Begin tap water and distribution system monitoring
P Treatment technique requirements take effect
m Complete tap water and Distribution system monitoring
m Complete corrosion control studies and recommend treatment to State
State designates optimal corrosion control treatment
P? Complete installation of corrosion control treatment
p* Complete follow-up monitoring and submit results to State1
State designates water quality parameters
1
Systems tat continue to exceed action level begin 15-yeer toad service line replacement program.
12—Lead and Capper Fact Sheet
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Regulatory Schedule for Medium-size Systems
(3,300 to <50,000 people)
Date
Activities (system activities denoted by
May 1991
July 1992
November 1992
January 1993
January 1994
July 1994
July 1995
January 1996
July 1996
July'j97
January 1998
- -
January 1999
July 1999:
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) for lead and
copper promulgated
m Begin tap water monitoring
Treatment technique requirements take effect
jj? Recommend optimal corrosion control treatment1
State requires system to conduct corrosion control studies2
State designates optimal corrosion control treatment3
||. Complete corrosion control studies and recommend treatment to State2
State designates optimal corrosion control treatment for system
conducting treatment studies?
f^ Complete installation of corrosion control treatment3
m Complete follow-up monitoring and submit results to State3'4
m Complete installation of corrosion control treatment2
State designates water quality parameters3
1^ Complete follow-up monitoring and submit results to State2*4
j?
State designates water quality parameters2
1 Assumes system exceeds lead or copper action level during first monitoring period.
2Medum-size systems required to conduct comparative treatment studies.
3Medium-size systems which State specifies optimal treatment without studws.
^Systems that continue to exceed action level begin 15-year toad service line replacement program.
Lead and Copper Pact Sheet—13
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Regulatory Schedule for Small Systems
(<3,300 people)
Data
January 1996
July 1996
Activities (system activities denoted by l>)
May 1991
November 1992
July 1993
January 1994
January 1995
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) for lead
copper promulgated
and
Treatment technique requirements take effect
P> Begin tap water monitoring
m. Recommend optimal corrosion control treatment to State1
State requires system to conduct corrosion control studies2
State designates optimal corrosion control treatment3
Complete corrosion control studies and recommend treatment to State2
January 1997
State designates optimal corrosion control treatment2
January 1998
Complete installation of corrosion control treatment3
January 1999
July 1999
• Complete installation of corrosion control treatment2 *
Complete follow-up monitoring and submit results to State3-4
State designates water quality parameters3
January 2000
July 2000
Complete follow-up monitoring and submits results to State2-4
State designates water quality parameters2
1 Assumes system exceeds lead or copper action level during first monitoring period.
2Small systems required to conduct comparative treatment studies.
SSrnaJI systems which Stale specifies optimal treatment without studies.
4Systems that continue to exceed action level begin 15-year lead service line replacement program.
14—Lead and Copper Fact Sheet
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For More Information
]RPA Regional Offices
EPA Region 1
Groundwater Management
and Water Supply Branch
JFK Federal Building
Barton, MA 02203
(617) 665-3610
Connecticut, Massacht
Maine, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island,Vermont
EPA Region 2
Drinking Water/Groundwater
Protection Branch
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212) 264-1800
New Jeney, New York, Puerto
Rico, Virgin Islands
EPA Region 3
Drinking Water/Groundwater
Protection Branch
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 597-8227
Delaware, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West
-- Virginia, District of Columbia
EPA Region 4
Municipal Facilities Branch
345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404) 347-2207
Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Ten
EPA Region 5
Safe Drinking Water Branch
230 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 353-2151
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
EPA Region«
Water Supply Branch
1445 Rosa Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 655-7150
Arkansas, Louisiana, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
EPA Region 7
Drinking Water Branch
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7032
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska
EPA Region 8
Drinking Water Branch
99918th Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303)293-1413
Colorado, Montana, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
Wyoming
EPA Region 9
Drinking Water/Groundwater
Protection Branch
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-2250
Arizona, California, Hawaii,
Nevada, American Samoa,
Guam, Trust Territories of the
Pacific
EPA Region 10
Drinking Water Programs
Branch
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-1223
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon,
Washington
EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline
© 1400-426-4791
Lead and Copper Fact Sheet—15
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