Lead in Drinking Water
Regulation: Public
Education Guidance
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Office of Water 4606
EPA816-R-02-010
www.epa.gov
Revised June 2002
^^ Printed on Recycled Paper
Public Education Guidance i June 2002
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Acknowledgment
EPA would like to thank the City of Raleigh, Wake County, and
the North Carolina Department of Human Resources for their
valuable assistance in planning and implementing the EPA pilot
public education program on lead in drinking water. Many
professionals and volunteers offered significant contributions to
this effort special thanks to the Raleigh Department of Public
Utilities, members of the Raleigh Task Force and the National
Advisory Group, and community volunteers who provided
invaluable assistance to this project, both in developing the pilot
study and creating the original guidance manual, dated July 1992.
Public Education Guidance ii June 2002
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Disclaimer
The SDWA provisions and EPA regulations described in this
document contain legally-binding requirements. This document
does not substitute for those provisions or regulations, nor is it a
regulation itself. Thus, it does not impose legally-binding
requirements on EPA, States, or the regulated community, and
may not apply to a particular situation based upon the
circumstances. EPA and State decisionmakers retain the discretion
to adopt approaches on a case-by-case basis that differ from this
guidance where appropriate. Any decisions regarding a particular
facility will be made based on the applicable statutes and
regulations. Therefore, interested parties are free to raise questions
and objections about the appropriateness of the application of this
guidance to a particular situation, and EPA will consider whether
or not the recommendations or interpretations in the guidance are
appropriate in that situation. EPA may change this guidance in the
future. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not
constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
Public Education Guidance Hi June 2002
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Table of Contents
Objective and Organization 1
Introduction 3
Section I
Summary of Program Requirements 5
Content of Public Education Materials 7
Delivery of Public Education Materials 8
Requirements for Community Water Systems 8
Requirements for Non-transient, Non-community Water Systems and Special-case
Community Water Systems 12
Reporting to the State 13
Water Testing 14
Section II
Developing an Action Plan 17
What is an Action Plan? 17
What to Include in Your Action Plan 17
Defining Your Program Audience 18
Providing Water Testing Services 18
Identifying the Types of Education Materials that Will Be Used 19
Determining How and When to Distribute Information 19
Section III
Working With a Task Force 21
Organizing a Task Force 21
Who To Include on Your Task Force 21
Using the Task Force to Help You Conduct a Successful Public Education Program
22
Supplement 1A
The Role of the Community 24
Supplement IB
The Role of the Water System 25
Section IV
Preparing Public Education Materials 27
Printed Materials 27
Pamphlets, Brochures, Mailers, and Posters 27
Tools and Methods for Promoting
Mass Media Coverage 29
News Releases or Media Notices 29
Delivery Method 29
Public Service Announcements 30
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Delivery Methods 30
Supplement 2
Making the Most of Media Coverage 31
Section V
Practical Tips for
Implementing the Program 33
Pacing Program Activities 33
Providing Water Tests or
Information on Water Testing 34
Responding to Public Inquiries 35
Supplement 3
Testing Water in the Schools 36
Appendix A
Summary of the Public Education Requirements for Community Water Systems
Serving 3,300 or Fewer People A-l
Appendix C
Water Testing Information Materials C-l
Appendix D
Public Education Brochures D-l
Appendix E
Public Education Posters E-l
Appendix F
Lead in Drinking Water
Public Service Announcement F-l
Appendix G
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions
that Relate to Public Education Requirements G-l
Appendix H
Information Sources H-l
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List of Tables
Table 1: Changes in the Public Education Requirements Resulting from
the Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions 5
Table 2: Schedule of Public Education Activities for Community Water Systems 11
Table 3: Schedule of Public Education Activities for
Non-transient, Non-community Water Systems or Special-Case Community Water Systems . 13
Table A-l: Differences in Public Education Requirements
Before and After the LCRMR A-l
Table D-l: List of Available Pamphlets and Brochures D-l
Table E-l: Key to Letter Inserts for Public Education Posters E-l
List of Figures
Figure 1: Key Steps in Conducting a Public Education Program on Lead in Drinking Water
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VII
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Objective and Organization
We, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), first issued this guidance document in July 1992.
Since that time, we published minor revisions to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
(NPDWRs) for lead and copper on January 12, 2000 (65 FR 1950). The Lead and Copper Rule
Minor Revisions (LCRMR) incorporate several comments received from systems and States based
on their experience implementing or overseeing a public education program. These revisions impact
the mandatory language and delivery requirements, especially for smaller systems, and change the
deadline for systems to report compliance with their public education requirements to the State. A
summary of the revised public education requirements is provided in Table 1 in Section I.
This guidance document explains the revised public education requirements, describes a practical
approach for successfully carrying out a public education program on lead in drinking water, and
continues to serve as a tool to assist water suppliers with conducting a community-based, public
education program on lead in drinking water. The program described here is based on our
NPDWRs for lead and copper, practical experience gained from implementing the public education
requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), and experience gained from an earlier pilot public
education program on lead in drinking water conducted by EPA in cooperation with Raleigh, North
Carolina.
We recognize that many systems have already developed public education programs but believe that
systems will find this document useful in understanding the modifications to the public education
requirements resulting from the LCRMR.
The guidance manual is divided into the following sections:
Introduction provides a discussion of the health effects of lead, a brief history of the lead
and copper rule regulations, and a short discussion of the pilot public education program
that was conducted in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Section I: Summary of Program Requirements summarizes public education program
requirements that water suppliers must meet to comply with the Federal regulations and how
the LCRMR have impacted these requirements.
Section II: Developing an Action Plan suggests one approach to developing a public
education program through development of an action plan.
Section III: Working with a Task Force discusses how a community-based task force can
assist you with conducting your public education program.
Section IV: Preparing Public Education Materials describes practical tips for
implementing the program.
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Objective and Organization
This document also contains eight appendices:
Appendix A: Summary of the Public Education Requirements for Community Water
Systems Serving 3,300 or Fewer People provides a summary of the public education
requirements, in a question and answer format, for smaller community water systems.
Appendix B: Lead in Drinking Water Action Plan contains a sample action plan.
Appendix C: Water Testing Information Materials provides two examples of
information materials that address water testing.
Appendix D: Public Education Brochures contains sample brochures for community and
non-transient, non-community water systems.
Appendix E: Public Education Posters provides sample posters that can be adapted for
use by non-transient, non-community water systems.
Appendix F: Lead in Drinking Water Public Service Announcement provides a sample
public service announcement.
Appendix G: Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to Public
Education Requirements contain the federal regulatory language, as modified by the
LCRMR, that pertains to your public education requirements
Appendix H: Information Sources provide a listing of other information sources that you
can reference to learn more about lead and its health effects.
Public Education Guidance 2 June 2002
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Introduction
Human exposure to lead has long been an important public health issue. Exposure can occur from
many sources, including old lead-based paint and contaminated dust and soil (from the
disintegration of lead-based paint or from past deposits of gasoline emissions). Lead exposure has
long been known to cause neurological impairment, altered physical development and blood
chemistry, and adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Health experts now recognize that
exposure to even small amounts of lead poses a potentially significant health risk, especially in
infants and young children. In response, EPA has taken a number of actions to limit our total
exposure to lead, such as phasing out the use of lead in gasoline. As a result of EPA's actions and
those of other government agencies, total exposure to lead is much lower today than in the late
1970s.
For many communities, however, lead in drinking water remains a widespread, controllable source
of lead and, as such, the Federal government has focused significant attention on its reduction. For
instance, the use of lead distribution pipes and lead solder, once a common practice, is now
prohibited.
On June 7, 1991, EPA promulgated revisions to the maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs)
and NPDWRs for controlling lead and copper in drinking water (Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 110,
pp. 26460-26564). We modified this rule with three technical amendments that were published in
the Federal Register on July 15, 1991 (56 FR 32113), June 29, 1992 (57 FR 28786), and June 30, 1994
(59 FR 33860). On January 12, 2000, we published the minor revisions which we also refer to as the
LCRMR. The LCR and its revisions require water suppliers to deliver water that is minimally
corrosive, thereby reducing the likelihood that lead and copper will be introduced into the drinking
water from the corrosion of lead and copper plumbing materials. In addition, they require water
suppliers to educate their customers about specific measures that can be used to reduce lead levels in
home drinking water caused by lead household plumbing materials the primary source of lead in
drinking water.
These rules specify that a water system must conduct a public education program on lead in drinking
water if during a monitoring period, more than 10 percent of the tap water samples collected in
accordance with §141.86 of the regulations (i.e., the 90th percentile lead level) exceed the EPA
"action level" of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water (mg/L).
Specific requirements regarding the content and delivery of this public education program are
contained in §141.85 of the regulation. This guidance discusses these requirements, as amended by
the LCRMR, and suggests a practical approach for successfully carrying out a public education
program on lead in drinking water. Please note that the citations contained in this guidance
document (e.g., §141.85) correspond to the Federal version of the lead and copper rule regulations.
In 1989, EPA conducted a pilot public education program on lead in drinking water in Raleigh,
North Carolina to determine the level of effort required to implement such a program and to
identify the types of information materials and distribution methods that are most effective in
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Introduction
reaching consumers. EPA developed and implemented the pilot program in cooperation with the
City of Raleigh, Wake County, and North Carolina State authorities as well as civic and business
interests.
The Raleigh pilot program confirmed that a community-wide public education program describing
the potential risks of lead in drinking water and detailing practical methods of reducing lead
ingestion can successfully reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. As indicated by the extensive
evaluation of the pilot program, the best way to ensure that community members take action to
reduce their risk of exposure to lead is to provide for substantialrepetition of messages using a variety of media.
In keeping with the results of the Raleigh pilot program, the lead and copper regulations require
substantial repetition of public education messages using a variety of media.
The pilot program also demonstrated the importance of securing assistance from the community to
implement the public education program. Involving a number of community organisations, as well as experts
who are knowledgeable about such relevant issues as health effects of lead and community and media relations, serves to
distribute the workload and improve the quality of the program. Raleigh effectively used this community-
based approach to both develop and carry out the pilot program. This guidance presents lessons
learned from the EPA/Raleigh pilot program, and from the actual implementation of the public
education requirements of the LCR and is designed to assist water systems in developing and
carrying out a community-based education program on lead in drinking water.
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Section I
Summary of Program Requirements
This document provides guidance to you, the public water suppliers regarding the public education
requirements of the LCR, as amended by the LCRMR. Section 141.85 of the lead and copper rule
regulations contain specific requirements regarding the content and delivery of your public
education program. Section 141.90(f) explains the information that you must provide to your State
to show that you have complied with your public education requirements. Table 1, below, highlights
the revisions to the public education requirements contained in §§141.85 and 141.90(f) (refer to
Appendix Gfor a copy of the federal regulatory language contained in these sections). A detailed discussion of
these requirements is provided following this table.
Table 1: Changes in the Public Education Requirements Resulting from
the Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions
Revision:
Applies to:
Require State Approval
before Implementing:
Content of Materials1
May delete information pertaining to
lead service lines from mandatory
language
May modify language regarding
availability of building permit records
and consumer access to these records
May use alternate mandatory language
designed for non-transient, non-
community water systems
(NTNCWSs) and some community
water systems (CWSs)
All water systems with no lead
service lines or lead goosenecks in
the water system service area
All water systems that do not have
such information available
All NTNCWSs
CWSs that: 1) cannot make
improvements to systems or install
treatment devices (e.g., prisons or
hospitals); and 2) provide water as
part of the cost of services provided
(also referred to as "Special-case"
CWSs)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Delivery of Public Education Materials*
May mail public education materials
separately from water bill
May provide alert on the outside of the
envelope or in package (versus printing it
on water bill)
May use of electronic transmission (i.e.,
e-mail) instead of or in combination
with printed materials
CWSs that do not have a billing
cycle within 60 days of exceeding
the lead action level or cannot insert
notice with water bill
CWSs
NTNCWSs
"Special-case" CWSs
No
No
No
Yes
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June 2002
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
Table 1: Changes in the Public Education Requirements Resulting from
the Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions
Revision:
Applies to:
Require State Approval
before Implementing:
May omit newspaper notification and
public service announcements, and
may limit coverage area receiving
brochures/pamphlets to facilities and
organizations served by system that are
most likely to be regularly visited by
pregnant women and children (unless
State requests wider distribution)
CWSs serving 500 or fewer people
No
CWSs serving 501 - 3,300 people
Yes
Public Education Program Reporting Requirements2
Must send documentation to State
within 10 days after end of each period
in which public education is required
to be performed (previous requirement was
to provide this letter by the end of each
calendarjear in which public education was
All water systems
Not Applicable
Must include certification that content
and delivery requirements were met as
part of documentation
All water systems
Not Applicable
May omit list of organizations/
facilities receiving public education
materials from documentation to State
if list was previously submitted, is unchanged,
and not required by State
All water systems
No
1 Before implementing any of the revisions listed under Content of Materials or Delivery of Public Education Materials
listed here in Table 1, check with your State to determine whether these revisions have been adopted into its
regulation. These requirements are less stringent than the LCR and you may not be able to implement them until
the provisions are incorporated into your State's regulations.
2 You must follow the requirements listed under Public Education Program Sporting Requirements, even if your State has
not yet adopted these revisions.
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
Content of Public Education Materials
Section 141.85(a) provides specific language that should be used in all printed materials developed
under the lead public education program and requires all materials to be readily understandable by
the layperson. This language describes the potential health effects of excess exposure to lead and
the reasons why lead in drinking water is of particular concern. It also provides step-by-step
instructions for water testing and follow-up actions that can be taken to reduce both short-term and
long-term exposure to lead in drinking water.
The LCRMR have divided §141.85(a) into two sections to provide separate mandatory language for
community water systems (CWSs) and non-transient, non-community water systems (NTNCWSs).
Section 141.85(a)(l) contains the language for CWSs and §141.85(a)(2) contains this language for
NTNCWSs. NTNCWSs have the option of continuing to use the original language now contained
in §141.85(a)(l) or to use this alternative language.
With State approval, a CWS may follow the NTNCWS public education requirements if the system
serves a facility, such as a hospital or prison, where the population served has no control over
plumbing or treatment and where water is provided as part of the cost of overall services, rather than
as a separate and distinct charge (i.e., a "special-case" CWS). The system must apply to the State in
writing to use the alternative language, unless the State has waived requirements for prior approval.
ft is best to check with the State to determine if this approval is needed.
We modified the language for NTNCWSs based on concerns raised by some EPA Regions and
States that the required public education material, while appropriate for CWSs that serve water to
residential customers, may not be appropriate for NTNCWSs and even some small CWSs such as
prisons and hospitals. This revised language contained in §141.85(a) (2) provides more relevant and
helpful information for persons consuming water in such systems than the existing language. We
replaced phrases such as "some homes in the community" with "some drinking water samples taken
from this facility." We also deleted the reference to having water tested for lead because customers
of a NTNCWS are unlikely to have this test conducted as they tend to consume the water for only a
short period of time and have little or no control over the water in the distribution system. For
similar reasons, we replaced references to home treatment devices with a suggestion for the use of
bottled water. Further, we simplified the discussion of flushing because people being served by
NTNCWSs are unlikely to know the nature of the plumbing as they would in their own home. This
language has been simplified to recommend a 15 to 30 second flush, which should clear any water
with high lead levels that come from the faucet. A copy of the alternative NTNCWS language is
provided in the sample public education materials in Appendices D and E and in the federal
regulatory language presented in Appendix G of this document.
The LCRMR allow two other instances where language may be deleted or modified to avoid
unnecessary concern or confusion. CWSs or NTNCWSs may delete or modify information
pertaining to lead service lines, if approved by the State, and if no lead service lines or lead
goosenecks exist in their systems. CWSs also may omit or modify the information contained in
§§141.85(a)(l)(iv)(B)(5) and (a)(1)(iv)(D)(2) regarding building permit record availability and
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
consumer access to these records, if approved by the State.1 This provision does not affect
NTNCWSs because the language for these systems does not contain reference to building permit
records. Appendix D provides examples of brochures for CWSs and NTNCWSs with and without
language related to lead service lines and/or building permits. Appendix E, which contains sample
posters for NTNCWSs, includes a version with lead service line language and one without this
language.
Section 141.85(b) provides specific language for water systems to use in all public service
announcements (PSAs) and broadcast materials developed as part of this program. The LCRMR do
not change the content of this language, but no longer require CWSs serving 3,300 people or fewer
to issue these announcements. You should first check with your State to determine if they still
require PSAs. Appendix F contains an example of a PSA that you can adapt for your use.
Delivery of Public Education Materials
According to §141.85(c) of the regulation, your public education program must be delivered to your
entire service area and targeted to high-risk segments of the population (i.e., community members
who are either more susceptible to the adverse effects of lead or who are at greater known risk of
exposure to lead in drinking water). If your system serves a significant proportion of non-English
speaking persons, §141.85(c) of the regulation requires that the information materials be available in
the appropriate languages to ensure that non-English speaking customers and members of the public
understand the information.
Requirements for Community Water Systems
According to §141.85(c), CWSs that exceed the lead action level, on the basis of tap water samples
collected in accordance with §141.86, must carry out the following four public education activities
within 60 days from the time the lead action level is exceeded (except as permitted under the
LCRMR). First check with your State to make sure you can take advantage of these LCRMR
provisions.
1. Distribute informational notices in water utility bills, along with a special alert (shown in the
box below). If your billing cycle is not within 60 days of exceeding the lead action level or the
format of your water bill does not allow materials to be included (e.g., postcard format or
computer-generated self-mailers), the LCRMR allow you to mail the notices separately. In
addition, some systems may not have room on their water bill to include the alert. The
LCRMR also permit you to include the alert on the outside of the envelope or inside the
package versus printing it on the actual water bill.
Section 141.85(a) has undergone substantial renumbering as part of the rule revisions. Previously,
§141.85(a)(l)(iv)(B)(J) and §141.85(a)(l)(iv)(D)(2) were §141.85(a)(4)(n)(E) and §141.85(a)(4)(iv)(B),
respectively.
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
SOME HOMES IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR
DRINKING WATER. LEAD CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO YOUR HEALTH.
PLEASE READ THE ENCLOSED NOTICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
2. Submit informational notices in major local newspapers. The LCRMR eliminate this
requirement for systems serving 500 or fewer people. Systems serving 501 to 3,300 people
may omit this notification but must first obtain permission from their States.
3. Deliver pamphlets or brochures to specified facilities and organizations, including: public
schools and/or local school boards; city or county health departments; Women, Infants, and
Children (WIG) and/or Head Start programs (if available); public and private hospitals or
clinics; family planning clinics; and local welfare agencies. Under the LCRMR, systems
serving 3,300 or fewer may limit distribution of these materials to those facilities and
organizations in their service area that are most likely to be regularly visited by pregnant
women and children. Systems serving 501 to 3,300 people must first obtain approval from
the State before limiting this distribution. Note: You are not required to distribute
pamphlets or brochures if you do not provide water to any of these types offacilities or
organisations, andyour State has adopted this LCRMR provision.
4. Submit PSAs to at least five radio and five television stations with the largest audiences that
broadcast to the community served by the water system. If you are a CWS that serves 3,300
or fewer people, the LCRMR do not require you to deliver this notification.
We limited the delivery requirements for systems serving 3,300 or fewer people because of past
confusion and burden it imposed on these systems. For some small systems, especially those
providing water to a small number of people in a larger urban or suburban area, these requirements
have created unintended consequences. Some systems were flooded with calls from individuals who
were not served by the system but had heard or read these announcements. The requirement to
distribute materials to locations visited frequently by pregnant women and children similarly imposes
a significant burden on these systems since it may involve a large number of locations if the system
is near an urban or suburban area.
REMEMBER: Special-case CWSs can use the alternative mandatory
language and delivery requirements that are specified for a NTNCWS.
However, the State may require them to receive prior State approval.
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
For as long as you continue to exceed the lead action level, you must:
Every 12 months:
Mail informational notices to your users,
Submit informational notices in major local newspapers*
Deliver pamphlets or brochures*
(*exceptfor CWSs serving 3,300 or fewer as discussed on the previous page).
Note: You can use the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) in place of a
notice to satisfy the annual delivery requirements for those customers that
receive water bills if you meet the following §141.85 requirements: 1) you
include the mandatory public education language in your CCR; 2) you print the
public education alert language on the front page of the CCR; and 3) the CCR
is delivered no later than 12 months from the last time you provided public
education.
Every 6 months:
Submit PSAs, except if you are a CWSs serving 3,300 or fewer people and your State
regulation allows you to forego delivering PSAs.
You can STOP delivering public education materials whenever your
90th percentile monitoring results are below the lead action level for
ONE monitoring period.
REMEMBER: If you exceed the lead action level again, the cycle
starts over. Your initial delivery must be within 60 days of the
exceedance and must be repeated once every 6 months for PSAs (if
required), and every 12 months for all other forms of delivery for as
long as the exceedance continues.
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
Table 2, below, summarizes the timing of the various public education activities.
Table 2: Schedule of Public Education Activities for Community Water Systems1
Public Education
Requirement
Within 60 days of the
exceedance2
Every 6 months for
as long as exceedance
occurs
Every 12 months for
as long as exceedance
occurs
Within 10 days after
the end of each
period in which
public education was
required
Bill Insert
Pamphlet &
Brochure
Newspaper
Notification
PSAs
Compliance
Letter to
State
1 Please note exceptions that have been summarized in the above section.
2 Applies first time action level is exceeded, and applies any subsequent time that a system exceeds the lead action
level when it is not already providing public education.
~ If a State adopts all the public education LCRMR provisions, a CW^S that serves 3,300 or fewer
people may only be required to distribute informational notices in water utility bills, along with the
special alert. These systems would not be require to provide notification to newspapers or PSAs.
They also would not be required to distribute pamphlets or brochures if they do not provide water to
any facilities or organisations that are likely to be regularly visited by pregnant women or children. ~
Requirements for Non-transient, Non-community Water Systems and
Special-case Community Water Systems
Within 60 days of exceeding the lead action level, a NTNCWS or special-case CWS must deliver
public education materials as follows:
Display informational posters on lead in drinking water in a public place or common
area in each of the buildings served by the system; and
Distribute informational pamphlets and/or brochures on lead in drinking water to each
person served by the system.
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
A NTNCWS or special-case CWS must repeat these actions at least once
which it exceeds the EPA lead action level.
'ear in
REMEMBER: You if you are a NTNCWS, you have the option of
using the alternative mandatory language provided in §141.85(a)(2) or
using the original language now contained in §141.85(a)(l). You do not
need State approval before using this alternative language. If you are a
special-case CWS, your State may require you to receive approval before
using the alternative mandatory language and delivery requirements
specified for a NTNCWS.
The revised rule allows NTNCWSs, or special-case CWSs with State approval to:
Further modify the language to omit information pertaining to lead service lines if no lead
service lines or lead goosenecks exist.
Distribute public education information electronically instead of or in combination with
printed materials, as long as you are reaching the same audience.
You can STOP delivering public education materials whenever your
90th percentile monitoring results are below the lead action level for
ONE monitoring period.
REMEMBER: If you exceed the lead action level again, the cycle
starts over. Your initial delivery must be within 60 days of the
exceedance and must be repeated every 12 months for as long as
the exceedance continues.
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
Table 3, below, illustrates the timing of these activities.
Table 3: Schedule of Public Education Activities for
Non-transient, Non-community Water Systems or Special-Case Community Water Systems
Public Education Requirement
Within 60 days of the exceedance1
Every 12 months for as long as exceedance
occurs
Within 10 days after the end of each period in
which public education was required
Poster
Pamphlet
Compliance
Letter to State
1 Applies first time action level is exceeded, and applies any subsequent time that a system exceeds the lead action
level when it is not already providing public education.
Reporting to the State
CWSs and NTNCWSs must also submit a letter to the State demonstrating that their water system
has delivered the public education materials that meet the regulation's content and delivery
requirements. The LCRMR have modified the date this letter is due and the contents of the letter.
Previously, this letter was due by December 31 of each year in which public education was
conducted. Now, this letter must be submitted within 10 days after the end of each period in which
public education is required. The rationale for accelerating the public education reporting
requirement is to provide States and EPA with information in a manner timely enough to oversee
systems' compliance with the public education requirements. If you are required to deliver PSAs
(which is a semi-annual requirement), you will be required to submit two letters to the State during a
calendar year instead of a single letter as was previously required.
Under the LCRMR, the letter must contain a certification that all public education materials meet the
written content requirements in §141.85(a), broadcast content requirements in §141.85(b), if
applicable, and the delivery requirements in §141.85(c). Due to the change in the reporting deadline,
the content of the letter has changed from reporting activities conducted in the previous year to
those conducted during the most current period in which public education was required. The
LCRMR no longer require you to resubmit your distribution list if you are able to certify that the list
has not changed and the State does not require this information. If you are a CWS and have a
change in your distribution list and/or the State requires you to submit this information, you must
include a list of all newspapers, radio and television stations, facilities, and organizations to which
you have delivered public education materials. If you are a CWS that is not required to deliver
public education materials to newspapers, radio stations, and/or television stations, the letter would
contain a listing of the facilities and organizations receiving such materials. If you are a NTNCWS,
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
the letter would include a list of the facilities and organizations to which the public education
materials were distributed or posted.
Water Testing
As part of the public education program, §141.85(d) requires water systems to provide tap water
sampling to any customer who requests it. You can conduct the sampling and analysis yourself,
arrange for a certified laboratory to perform the testing, or provide your customers with the names
of laboratories that can perform this service. At a minimum, you must publish the names and phone
numbers of at least two laboratories in the area that customers can call to have their water tested for
lead. This information must be published in the required water bill inserts, newspaper notices, and
pamphlets and/or brochures. The required PSA (if applicable) must provide the phone number of
the city or water system for customers who wish to obtain information on testing. You are not
required to pay for the cost of the analysis. If your water system conducts the sampling and analysis,
you can charge for this service.
Public Education Guidance 14 June 2002
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
The remaining Sections II through V suggest one possible approach to complying with the public
education regulatory requirements through the five key steps that we have found through our
experience can help produce a successful public education plan.
Figure 1: Key Steps in Conducting a Public
Education Program on Lead in Drinking
Water
Develop an Action Plan
(Refer to Section II)
I
Organize a Community-Based Task Force
(Refer to Section III)
I
Prepare a Water-Testing Program
(Refer to Section II)
I
Prepare Public Education Materials
(Refer to Section IV)
I
Implement the Program
(Refer to Section V)
Public Education Guidance
15
June 2002
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Section I: Summary of Program Requirements
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16
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Section II
Developing an Action Plan
What is an Action Plan?
As the water supplier, you are responsible for conducting the education program on lead in drinking
water. This is a large task. If your system is a CWS that serves more than 3,300 people, the
regulations require you to distribute information to customers, the media, public schools, the city or
county health department, and a number of public and private community organizations. If you are
a smaller CWS, the regulations may allow you to omit delivery to the media and to some of these
organizations and facilities. Regardless, EPA recommends (but does not require) that you develop
an action plan for carrying out the program. The action plan is a tool to assist you in organizing and
implementing the various activities included in your education program. In addition, the action plan
should describe the resources (funding as well as professional and volunteer support) that will be
needed to implement the program. A sample action plan is provided at the end of this document as
Appendix B. You may begin by using this generic plan to design a public education program
specific to your community.
'Note: Although this section of the document and the action plan is
more specific to CWSs, NTNCWSs may find some of this information
useful in organizing their public education programs.
What to Include in Your Action Plan
An action plan should achieve four basic objectives:
1. Define the program audience;
2. Outline a customer water testing program for lead;
3. Identify the types of education materials that will be used; and
4. Determine how and when to best deliver the information to your audience.
Public Education Guidance 17 June 2002
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Defining Your Program Audience
Identifying your audience is one of the first and most important decisions that you should make
concerning your program. The size, location, and cultural composition of the audience will have a
direct effect on the design of your program from the educational materials you use to how you
distribute information. Following is a brief description of the types of audiences your education
program must target.
General Public/Customers. Your service area includes everyone who receives water from your
distribution system. Obviously, your customers include a wide variety of people who live in
different locations and types of residences and who represent different age groups, socioeconomic
levels, and family sizes and compositions.
High-risk Groups. A high-risk group is a specific group of people who may be more adversely
affected by high levels of lead than others. Examples of groups that are at particular risk to lead
include pregnant women, infants, and children. Therefore, you will want to distribute information
materials through agencies and organizations that serve these high-risk groups.
Non-English Speaking Public. If a significant proportion of the population in your community
speaks a language other than English, the regulations require that the education materials on lead in
drinking water also be prepared in the appropriate language(s) to ensure that non-English speaking
persons have access to this information.
Providing Water Testing Services
Providing water testing services is a key component of your program. You need to develop a
process for conducting and analyzing the samples and reporting results or arrange to have these
services provided by a local laboratory or water testing company. There are four key elements of a
water testing program:
Providing a way for people to request water testing;
Conducting the tests in a timely manner;
Ensuring that the tests are conducted properly; and
Providing the test results along with additional follow-up information.
Appendix C provides two examples of water testing informational materials.
REMEMBER: You are not required to analyze the sample yourself
or to pay for the analysis. At a minimum, you must provide the names
of laboratories that can conduct these services.
Public Education Guidance 18 June 2002
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Identifying the Types of Education Materials that Will Be Used
Pamphlets or brochures, posters, bill inserts, news releases, andPSslszre the types of materials you may be
required to distribute as part of your public education program. Examples of these materials are
included in Appendices D through F. Community members can assist you in preparing, printing,
and distributing these materials.
Determining How and When to Distribute Information
To reach the largest and most diverse audience possible, it is important to use a variety of
communication methods. For CWSs, methods of communicating information include distribution
through government agencies, schools, public and private health care and day-care providers, community organisations,
and the media. Pamphlets or brochures on lead in drinking water should be distributed directly to
parents and children through school teachers and day-care, health care, and community service
providers. Notices must be mailed to customers as a separate mailer or in their water bills. In
addition, larger CWSs (and smaller CWSs, if required by the State) must submit notices to local
newspapers and deliver PSAs to radio and television stations.
NTNCWSs must display informational posters in a public place or common area in each of the
buildings served by the system and distribute pamphlets or brochures to each person served by the
system. We recognize that NTNCWSs may be able to effectively disseminate the information
contained in the brochures and pamphlets electronically. The LCRMR allow for the distribution of
this information electronically as long as it achieves the same coverage as delivery using printed
materials. The system may also use a combination of the two methods. Systems using electronic
means of distribution must still display the informational posters. Posting and electronic
distribution can also be used by special-case CWSs with approval from the State.
It will be helpful to devise a schedule for implementing the water testing program, developing
education materials, and distributing them to the public and targeted groups.
Public Education Guidance 19 June 2002
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Section
Working With a Task Force
Organizing a Task Force
Once you have given some initial thought to planning and organizing your education program, we
encourage you to seek assistance from a variety of community organizations. Organize a task force
or committee comprised of community members representing the public, private, and civic sectors
to assist you in organizing and implementing a public education program on lead in drinking water.
For NTNCWSs, this task force will most likely be comprised of individuals from your system. Task
force members can help you with all aspects of the program, from developing the action plan to
preparing or printing education materials and implementing the program.
Who To Include on Your Task Force
It is important to establish a task force whose members will voice the concerns and provide the
expertise of a variety of local organizations and interests. A diverse task force will provide you with
access to a wide range of community resources. We recommend including representatives from the
following community groups:
City, county, and State government officials (e.g., representatives of the city, county, or
municipal council; the mayor's, city administrator's, or county commissioner's office);
City or county government agencies (e.g., the human resources, public affairs, health, and
environmental protection or water quality departments; and agencies responsible for
administering lead screening programs);
Representatives of the local public school system;
Representatives of public hospitals and/or clinics;
Members of active community service organizations (such as the Head Start Program; the
Women, Infants, and Children's Nutrition Program; family planning clinics; and local welfare
agencies);
Civic groups (for instance, the Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood associations, and local
chapters of organizations like the League of Women Voters and the Sierra Club); and
Private sector (day-care centers, pediatricians, health care facilities or clinics, and hospitals).
Each of these groups has a unique and important contribution to make to the program.
Government officials lend credibility and authority, and, as a result, can draw attention to the
program. Government agencies offer an array of specialized services and technical expertise from
mobilizing community resources and media involvement, to providing expertise on the health
effects of lead.
Public Education Guidance 21 June 2002
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Section III: Working With a Task Force
Schools represent the largest gathering of children in any community. Therefore, schools can be an
important conduit for delivering information on lead in drinking water to the public. As education
experts, public school officials and teachers can provide valuable support to the program.
In addition, community service organizations can distribute information to high-risk targeted
groups; civic groups can offer valuable volunteer assistance; and the private sector can underwrite
program costs as well as distribute information to high-risk targeted groups.
Some communities may decide to invite a media representative to serve on the task force. If you
choose to do so, you may want to involve someone at the supervisory level rather than a general
reporter. Such a task force member could serve as an advisor on how to best involve the media to
foster constructive, widespread publicity for your program. If you feel uncomfortable involving the
media in this capacity, designate one member of the task force as a media "liaison" with special
responsibilities related to media coverage of the program. In Raleigh, a representative from the
City's Public Affairs Department served in this capacity. Regardless of the extent to which you
decide to involve the media, establish contact with local media representatives before the official
"kick-off of the program.
As you solicit the help of different organizations, it is important for you to define each
organization's role in your program. It is also important to gauge the level and type of commitment
that the group or representative is willing to give to the project. You will find that some individuals
and organizations are able to commit a great deal of time and resources to the program, because it
will directly affect issues or other programs in which they are involved. Others will only be
interested in taking on an advisory role. Your action plan should provide you with a general sense of
how much help you will need to complete the tasks associated with the project.
Using the Task Force to Help You Conduct a Successful Public Education
Program
After you have formed a community-based task force, we encourage you to organize a meeting to
review and refine the action plan. Schedule your meeting with as much advance notice as possible in
order to allow task force members time to review the draft plan and arrange their schedules to
attend the meeting.
The purpose of this meeting is to solicit input from task force members on those aspects of the
action plan where they have particular expertise and to obtain their commitment to carry out specific
activities identified in the plan. Their involvement is likely to be most useful in designing materials
to appeal to particular groups, reviewing draft information materials to ensure that they are targeted
properly and that they clearly present the program's message, and in distributing materials through
their organizations.
Supplement 1A to this section describes the roles various city and county organizations played in the
Raleigh pilot. Supplement IB describes the role of the Raleigh Department of Public Utilities in
planning and implementing the program.
Public Education Guidance 22 June 2002
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Supplement 1A
The Role of the Community
Dempsey Eenton, City Manager of Raleigh, discusses the roles that City of Raleigh personnel played in developing the pilot
Participating in EPA's pilot education program on lead in drinking water was a learning experience for many
people involved in City of Raleigh government. Four City departments, Public Affairs, Parks and Recreation,
Human Resources, and Public Utilities, were involved in the program.
The responsibilities taken on by these organizations varied widely. The Public Affairs Department prepared
press releases, helped schedule the "kick-off press conference, and made media contacts. The Parks and
Recreation Department's responsibilities included distributing information materials at its community centers
throughout the City. These community centers also served as collection points for water samples taken by
citizens for analysis by the Public Utilities Department. The Human Resources Department coordinated with
the Raleigh Citizens Advisory Councils (neighborhood associations formally recognized by the City); the
Head Start Program; Women, Infants, and Children Program; and day-care facilities to assist with the
distribution of information materials.
The Department of Public Utilities was the main participant in the program. Staff members were responsible
for coordinating with the EPA, talking to citizens about the project, contacting the media with updates
throughout the program, participating in meetings with different citizens' groups, and working closely with
the Wake County Public School System to determine if there were any lead problems in the local schools.
In addition, the Utilities Department analyzed the 969 water samples that were submitted for lead tests during
the program.
Finally, a word must be said about volunteers. In order to take on this pilot project, the City had to rely on
the efforts of many volunteers from different civic organizations and other public agencies. The Raleigh
Citizens Advisory Councils, the Capital Area Sierra Club, the League of Women Voters, and the St. Raphael's
Young Mothers Group, all contributed to the program. In addition, the Wake County Public School System,
the Wake County Health Department, the North Carolina Department of Human Resources, and the Raleigh
Chamber of Commerce all provided insight and assistance in a variety of ways. Each of these organizations
was instrumental in carrying out the goals of the program.
The City of Raleigh's participation in EPA's pilot education program helped us to better inform our
customers about the potential problems associated with lead in drinking water and prepared us to deal
effectively with other drinking water issues that may arise in the future.
Public Education Guidance 23 June 2002
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Supplement 1B
The Role of the Water System
Carl Simmons, Director of the City of Raleigh Department of Public Utilities, discusses his department's role in developing and
conducting the pilot public education program in Raleigh.
The staff of the Raleigh Department of Public Utilities learned a great deal about preparing a public education
program through its participation in EPA's pilot public education program on lead in drinking water. One
of the key things we learned is that developing such a program consumes a significant amount of staff time.
However, during the course of the program, we also realized that drawing on the expertise and distribution
systems of other organizations eased the burden somewhat and provided expertise that did not exist in the
department. Prior to getting involved in this program, I was unaware of County and State programs that
dealt with lead issues. Water suppliers need to seek out these diverse sources of expertise because citizens
have numerous questions regarding the health consequences of elevated lead levels in their drinking water
that you may not be able to answer completely.
We also learned it is very important to make contact with local media representatives in advance of your
program in order to acquaint them with its goals and objectives. In Raleigh, radio and TV stations, as well
as local newspapers were receptive to our information and helped present the program in a positive and
upbeat manner.
The largest impact of the program on the Raleigh Public Utilities staff was the City's commitment to provide
its customers with free water tests. The number of requests for water tests increased tremendously
throughout the program due to media coverage. During the four-month period of our program, we received
969 requests for lead analyses. Doing that volume of work with our existing staff was a real challenge. Other
utilities departments should be prepared for a similar response if they decide to offer water tests and be ready
to commit a significant amount of staff time to dealing with these requests.
Public Education Guidance 24 June 2002
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25
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Section IV
Preparing Public Education Materials
There are a number of different types of information materials and promotional tools that you may
develop for your education program. They can be broadly categorized into two groups: printed
materials and tools for promoting media coverage. EPA has developed some of the required
materials for you to copy or adapt for your community. These are available electronically at the
EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Web Site:
www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/implement.html or can be obtained by calling the Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
Using a variety of materials and communication methods will help ensure that you reach all sectors
of your community. Make sure to address all of the content and delivery requirements designated in
the regulations and outlined in Section I of this manual.
This section describes the required education materials and discusses communication methods for
each of these versatile tools.
Printed Materials
Pamphlets, Brochures, Mailers, and Posters
Content. Section 141.85(a)(l) of the regulation specifies the minimum content of the printed public
education materials delivered to customers served by CWSs. Section 141.85(a)(2) contains the
language developed under the LCRMR for NTNCWSs. This language can also be used by special-
case CWS with approval from the State. CWSs and NTNCWSs can delete information pertaining to
lead service lines, if approved by the State, and if no lead service lines or lead goosenecks exist
anywhere in the water system service area. CWSs can also modify the language regarding building
permit record availability and consumer access to these records, if approved by the State. Further,
with State approval, water suppliers can add or modify language, as long as it does not contradict the
minimum required information. Appendix D provides template pamphlets with the mandatory
language that CWSs and NTNCWSs must provide to their customers. Please note that these sample
materials contain all of the required language, but some of the information is slightly reorganized to
provide customers with the key information on the front fold. Customers who are interested in
more detailed information may read the foldout pages. State and local telephone numbers for
additional assistance are displayed prominently on the back panel. Finally, the pamphlets have
several blank places for the water supplier to add specific information regarding treatment schedules,
home sample collection (for CWSs), and telephone numbers. Please be sure to provide this
information, where indicated. Note that electronic versions of these materials are available on the
internet at www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/implement.html to those that have the computer
capabilities to update and customize the documents with their system-specific information.
Alternatively, hard copies of the materials are available by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
800-426-4791 for those who prefer to write in their system-specific information.
Public Education Guidance 26 June 2002
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Section IV: Preparing Public Education Materials
Format. It is important that your information materials be attractive, "eye-catching", and easy to
read. The physical presentation and readability of your materials are as important as the accuracy of
the information presented. You are encouraged to use short, catchy, and colorful pamphlets, which
are typically more effective in capturing the readers' attention. Your budget will likely dictate your
use of graphics, quality of the paper, and the number of colors of ink you use to print your materials.
(Remember to use your task force some members may have access to low-cost printing or
reproduction facilities, or may be willing to donate or incur the cost of printing.)
Delivery Methods. Note that many CWSs periodically enclose special information notices or
inserts in their customers' water bills. If you already provide this service, you may choose to
dedicate a particular notice to the topic of lead in drinking water. Bill inserts are relatively
inexpensive to produce especially if you already have a regular notice service. If you do not
currently provide such a service, you can use the pamphlet provided in Appendix D. Remember that
people who live in apartment complexes or other housing units where the water bill is paid by a
landlord or a supervisor will not be on your mailing list. The landlord or supervisor for such
buildings should be mailed extra bill inserts for distribution to residents. For NTNCWSs, the
LCRMR allow you to deliver public education information electronically to each person you serve in
place of or in combination with printed materials. It is best to check with your State to be sure it
allows electronic delivery.
Information can also be distributed via government agencies, schools, community service programs,
and health care providers. Teachers, day-care providers, pediatricians, and doctors in hospitals and
health clinics can be valuable resources for distributing information materials, especially to high-risk
groups, such as pregnant women and families with children and infants. Various community service
programs such as the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program (WIG); Head Start (a pre-
school education program for economically disadvantaged children); and child lead screening
programs should be targeted to distribute educational materials to their clients.
Furnish information materials in display racks in both public and private facilities. A display
consisting of a poster and pamphlets is useful for communicating with target audiences, such as
pregnant mothers and families with infants and children, as well as with the general public.
Consider exhibiting posters and providing pamphlets for display racks of private facilities, such as
day-care centers and doctors' offices, as well as in public places, such as the local water utility, health
department, and community centers. Day-care centers, libraries, and churches may be particularly
helpful in smaller communities without many large public agencies.
Tools and Methods for Promoting
Mass Media Coverage
The media can be a powerful tool for providing information to a large audience at low cost. Media
attention builds upon itself. A story about lead in drinking water in one newspaper may inspire a
competing newspaper to look into the issue further or a radio or television station to do a feature in
an upcoming broadcast. Stories in the national news or in well known publications also can inspire
local media sources to examine the issue more closely.
Public Education Guidance 27 June 2002
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Section IV: Preparing Public Education Materials
It is important that you provide reporters with direct, easy to understand, and complete information
regarding monitoring results, the sources of lead in your community's drinking water, and the
treatment and educational programs you are implementing to remedy the problem. In order to
develop an effective media strategy for your program, it is important to obtain expert assistance
from your municipality's public affairs office or a public relations expert. According to residents,
the media campaign proved to be the most effective source of information in the Raleigh pilot
program. Supplement 2 describes the Raleigh media campaign.
News Releases or Media Notices
Format. News releases are brief informational notices that are distributed to local press
representatives. Always include the name and phone number of an informed contact so that media
representatives can obtain more information and cover the issue more fully than presented in a news
release.
Delivery Method
Local Newspapers. CWSs must deliver information every 12 months to editorial departments of
the major daily and weekly newspapers circulated throughout the community. Newspapers are
always in search of newsworthy items and will often publish feature articles based on a news release
or coverage of a press conference. You should use all major daily or weekly newspapers to get your
message delivered. It is recommended that you meet with the managing editors of the major
newspapers early in the project to solicit their support.
REMEMBER: The LCRMR allow CWSs serving 500 or fewer
people to omit newspaper notification. Systems serving 501 to 3,300
people may omit this notification with prior State approval. However,
it is best to check with your State to be sure that they do not require
newspaper notification for all CWSs.
Radio and Television Stations. Radio and television stations are a prime source of information
for most people. Radio and television news programs often feature brief spots based on a news
release or coverage of a press conference. The stations also broadcast brief PSAs as a community
service. In addition, they feature news briefs, special interest features, and talk shows on local issues
of interest. Larger CWSs should promote radio and television coverage of the lead in drinking water
issue as the best way to get the message delivered to a mass audience at no cost.
Public Service Announcements
Format. Section 141.85(b) of the regulation specifies the minimum content of the public education
language to be broadcast to customers. This language has not been modified from the original rule.
A PSA can be broadcast on either radio or television. A PSA is very brief (e.g., 20 seconds) and can
provide far-reaching, low-cost publicity for your program. A pre-taped or written announcement
Public Education Guidance 28 June 2002
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Section IV: Preparing Public Education Materials
can be provided to radio stations; the text for a video spot or an actual videotaped message can be
provided to television stations. Appendix F provides a sample PSA.
Delivery Methods
Local Radio and Television Stations. The regulations require CWSs to submit PSAs to five of
the radio and five television stations with the largest audiences in the community. These
announcements must be repeated every six months for as long as the system continues to exceed the
lead action level.
REMEMBER: Under the LCRMR, CWSs serving 3,300 or fewer people
are no longer required to deliver PSAs. However, first check with your
State to be sure that you are exempt from this requirement.
Public Education Guidance 29 June 2002
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Supplement 2
Making the Most of Media Coverage
Jade Junk of the Raleigh Department of Public Affairs and member of the task force for the EPA/'Raleigh PilotProgram offers
her views on the importance of utilising the media and hon> to work most effectively with the media.
The support of the mass media radio, television, newspapers, and magazines is essential to the success
of any public education program. The media is one of the most effective means of reaching a large number
of people with information they can readily understand and use.
Public officials and community organizers are often wary about inviting media attention to an issue of public
concern for fear that the reporting will be inaccurate or unjustly critical. To the contrary, being proactive
by initiating discussions about the issue rather than being reactive with the media will yield substantial
control and advantage in what is reported.
Water suppliers who are required to develop lead in drinking water public education programs in their
communities are encouraged to involve the local media at the outset of the program. Widespread media
involvement, initiated and directed by the local task force, can produce very effective educational results. In
Raleigh, the Public Utilities Department, with the assistance of the Public Affairs Department, made contact
with media representatives on a personal basis. (It is important to contact all major media serving the
community this will ensure more widespread coverage of the issue and eliminate any notions of bias or
favoritism on the part of the water utility.) At these meetings, media representatives were informed about the
lead in drinking water issue, and the commencement of a city-wide education program. All members of the
press were invited to a press conference and were asked to provide public service support throughout the
education program.
These meetings should be attended by the director of the water utility, the director's key staffer assistingwith
this effort, and one or two other members of the local task force. This will demonstrate the local water
supplier's commitment to the issue. The meetings should be held with the news director or someone with
decision-making authority within the media organization. In addition, it is important to be specific about
what you are requesting (i.e., please consider airing public service announcements, please provide periodic
coverage of the issue throughout the education program). It is also important to provide media
representatives with the name and phone number of a contact person whom they can call to obtain more
information.
To ensure responsible and accurate coverage of the lead in drinking water issue, provide the media with
background information on the subject as well as prepared news releases. In addition, keep media
representatives informed about program activities and address their questions and concerns speedily at all
times. Information should always be presented to the media fairly and accurately; in turn, the media can be
expected to report on issues in the same manner. For instance, if a community has a lead in drinking water
problem, such as lead distribution lines or lead contamination in school water fountains, the media should
be encouraged to report fairly on the situation and, more importantly, to explain what is being done in
response to the problem.
Public Education Guidance 30 June 2002
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Section V
Practical Tips for
Implementing the Program
Once you have developed an action plan, established a task force, set up or arranged for a customer
water testing program for lead, and designed and printed your education materials, you are ready to
implement the program. Conducting the program involves completing all of the tasks outlined in
the action plan. Implementation should flow smoothly if you have organized and planned your
efforts efficiently. In addition to the guidance contained in previous sections, some practical tips for
implementing your program are provided below.
Pacing Program Activities
It is important to remember that an education program can only be effective if it is administered
over a period of time. Competing demands for people's attention (i.e., information overload) can be
a significant communication impediment. Therefore, it is suggested that you pace outreach activities
over several months to ensure that people are given several opportunities to receive the message.
For example, the regulation requires that you deliver bill inserts, pamphlets or brochures, and
newspaper announcements every 12 months. You may decide to distribute pamphlets, display
posters, send notices to newspapers a few months later, and then follow-up with a mailer or water
bill insert the following quarter.
Some program activities must precede others to ensure a successful approach. For example,
information materials should be ready for distribution prior to issuing a news release or PSA. Also,
all elements of a water testing program must be in place before information materials advertising the
program are distributed or the program is announced by the media.
You should also be sensitive to the potential effects of the program on local agencies, such as the
local health department, a child lead screening program, or the public school system. For example,
you should coordinate with the local health department and the child lead screening program to
ensure that they are prepared to handle public inquiries about the health effects of lead or requests
for blood lead screening tests. You should involve the local schools at the start of the program to
ensure that education officials are not blind-sided by publicity about the issue of lead in drinking
water stemming from your public education program. Schools represent the largest gathering of
children in any community, and school drinking fountains and plumbing systems are a potential
source of lead in drinking water. Therefore, it is prudent to test schools' water supplies and remedy
any problems prior to launching a public education program on lead in drinking water, both from a
public health as well as a public relations standpoint. A guidance document explaining how to test
water in schools for lead, identify potential problems, and take corrective action is available by
visiting the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Web Site:
www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/implement.html or can be obtained by calling the Safe Drinking
Public Education Guidance 32 June 2002
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Section V: Practical Tips for Implementing the Program
Water Hotline at: 800-426-4791. See Appendix H: Information Sources for a list of other useful
references that can provide you with information on lead. Supplement 3 outlines the testing
program undertaken by the Wake County Public Schools Department as part of the Raleigh pilot
project.
Providing Water Tests or
Information on Water Testing
If you decide to provide water tests to your customers, you should plan for this aspect of your
program well in advance of offering the service. Keep in mind that you may get a significant
number of requests for this service, particularly at times when your program is especially visible. Be
prepared to respond to all of these requests as promptly as possible. Arrange to have adequate staff
support and laboratory assistance to carry out your water testing program. You will also need to
prepare instructions for collecting water samples at the tap. Your instructions should be as clear and
simple as possible in order to prevent misinterpretation. A pictorial explanation of the process
instead of or in addition to a written explanation will probably be the most useful to members of
your community. Appendix C contains sampling instructions that you can provide to those
customers who want to have their water tested, and also includes an example of how one water
system presented this information to their customers. You will also need to decide how to obtain
the samples from your customers and manage sampling data. In addition, you must prepare
"notification of results" letters. Your letter of notification should give residents detailed technical
results as well as a clear explanation of the different levels of lead contamination.
If you choose instead to provide only information on water testing to your customers, research the
services that are available in your area and give community members instructions on how to arrange
for a water test (names and telephone numbers of local services) as well as information on how
much the test will cost. Make it as easy as possible for customers to obtain the services they need.
Public Education Guidance 33 June 2002
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Section V: Practical Tips for Implementing the Program
Responding to Public Inquiries
It is important to provide people with an opportunity to ask questions or obtain further information
about the issue of lead in drinking water. The simplest way to provide this service is to publish
phone numbers of organizations that can respond to public inquiries about lead in drinking water.
In Raleigh, the Department of Public Utilities responded to questions on the quality of public water
supplies, general questions about lead in drinking water, and the water testing program. The Wake
County Health Department and the North Carolina Lead Screening Program served as
clearinghouses for inquiries about the health effects of lead and child lead screening services.
Information materials used in the pilot program also listed several local laboratories for citizens
using private wells. EPA strongly encourages you to provide similar services as part of your
education program. Be sure that each organisation listed as a source for additional information in your education
L O <5 \, J J J
materials has informed all staff who answer the phone to expect inquiries about lead in drinking water and has
instructed its staff on how to answer or refer such calls. Also, consider keeping track of phone inquiries as a
way to gauge the progress and effectiveness of your program.
Public Education Guidance 34 June 2002
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Supplements
Testing Water in the Schools
Riley Refiner, Director of Operations of the Wake County Public Schools, discusses the importance of testing drinking water
in the schools.
The local school superintendent and appropriate staff should be invited to participate in the planning process
for conducting a public education program on lead in drinking water. Schools represent the largest gathering
of children in any community; thus, water quality in the schools is likely to be the focus of public scrutiny
on the issue of lead in drinking water.
Prior to any public announcement about lead in drinking water or the start of an education program, drinking
water sources throughout the school system should be screened for lead. Testing drinking water in schools
prior to starting the public education program enables school officials to deal proactively with any potential
problems rather than react to public scrutiny.
Most school systems' budgets are stretched to the limit. Thus, a cooperative arrangement between the
municipal water supplier and the school system is important to conducting a cost efficient lead testing
program in the schools. Commercial labs may charge from $18 to $25 to analyze each sample. Given the
number of fountains found in most schools, the costs for lead testing could rapidly become prohibitive.
In Raleigh, the Department of Public Utilities developed the sampling protocols and provided personnel and
laboratory analyses services to the school system. School personnel collected the samples; recorded the make,
type, and age of the water fountains; and packaged the samples for delivery to the lab. The sampling
techniques worked well and provided the school system with relevant information to address public questions
before the public education program on lead in drinking water was announced.
Most school systems are concerned that fixtures and pipes in the plumbing system are the major contributors
to high lead levels in the drinking water. In many cases, however, isolated drinking water fountains are the
source of the problem, and problem fountains can be replaced without incurring a large expense. If a
problem attributable to the plumbing system is found, flushing the system each school day may provide the
most cost-effective solution.
The focus of any education program on lead revolves around the potential harm posed to infants and
children. The schools can be a valuable asset to a community awareness program on the issue of lead in
drinking water. The fear of discovering a major problem should not deter school officials from participating
in the education program. It is much better to actively and responsibly address problems associated with lead
in drinking water in the schools through a self-administered testing and remediation program than to be
forced to react to public pressure.
Public Education Guidance 35 June 2002
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Appendices
AppendixA:
AppendixB:
'Appendix C:
'Appendix D:
'Appendix E:
'Appendix F:
Appendix G:
Summary of the Public Education Requirements for
Community Water Systems Serving 3,300 or Fewer
People
Lead in Drinking Water Action Plan
Water Testing Information Materials
Public Education Brochures
Public Education Posters
Lead in Drinking Water Public Service Announcement
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
'Appendix H: Information Sources
Public Education Guidance
June 2002
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Appendix A
Summary of the Public Education Requirements for
Community Water Systems
Serving 3,300 or Fewer People
1. What Are My Public Education Requirements If My CWS Serves 3,300 or Fewer
People?
Your requirements fall into three categories:
1. Providing public education information on lead;
2. Offering water testing to the people you serve, if requested; and
3. Providing documentation to the State that shows you met your public education
requirements.
A comparison of these requirements under the original LCR and the LCRMR are provided in Table
A-l below.
Table A-l: Differences in Public Education Requirements
Before and After the LCRMR
Requirements Under the Original LCR
Requirements Under the LCRMR
Public Education Delivery
Mail informational notices
must be in water bill
special alert must be printed on water bill
Newspaper notification
must submit informational notices to major
local newspapers
Deliver pamphlets or brochures
must deliver pamphlets or brochures to
specified facilities and organizations that
provide services to children and pregnant
women
Deliver public service announcements
must deliver PSAs to at least 5 radio & 5 TV
stations that broadcast to largest audiences in
community served by CWS
Mail informational notices
can be in water bill or mailed separately
special alert must be included but does not have
to be printed on water bill
Newspaper notification
not required for CWSs serving 500 people
not required for CWSs serving 501 to 3,300 with
State permission
Deliver pamphlets or brochures
can limit delivery to facilities/organizations in
CWSs's service area most likely to be regularly
visited by pregnant women and children but
must also distribute notices to every household
it serves
Deliver public service announcements
not required for CWSs serving 3,300 or fewer
people, unless required by State
Public Education Guidance
A-1
June 2002
-------
Table A-l: Differences in Public Education Requirements
Before and After the LCRMR
Requirements Under the Original LCR
Requirements Under the LCRMR
Water Testing
Must offer to sample tap water of any customer who
requests it. System is not required to pay for or analyze
the sample or to collect and analyze the sample itself.
Requirement is the same under the LCRMR.
Reporting Compliance to the State
Must provide a letter to the State by the end of the
calendar year in which public education was delivered
No requirement to provide certification that content and
delivery requirements were met
Must provide public education distribution list
Must submit written documentation to the State, that
demonstrates compliance with public education
requirements, within 10 days of the end of each period
in which public education tasks were required
Must send certification that content and delivery
requirements were met as part of documentation
Not required to submit public education distribution list,
if list was previously submitted, system certifies that list
has not changed, and State does not require this
information
2. How Do I Know If I Should Follow the Delivery Requirements of the Original
LCR or the LCRMR?
The delivery requirement under the LCRMR are less stringent than the original LCR (i.e., they
eliminate newspaper notification, PSAs, and limit those facilities/organizations to which you provide
pamphlets). Therefore, your State may first need to incorporate these LCRMR provisions into its
State regulation before you can take advantage of them. In addition, your State can decide not to
adopt some of the "less stringent" provisions of the LCRMR. You should check with your State
regarding your specific delivery requirements.
3. How Do I Know If I Should Follow the Reporting Requirements of the Original
LCR or the LCRMR?
You must follow the reporting requirements as revised under the LCRMR because these revised
requirements are more stringent than the original LCR. The one exception is whether your State will
require you to resubmit your distribution list if you are able to certify that the list has not changed.
You should check with your State regarding the need to resubmit this list.
Public Education Guidance
A-2
June 2002
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4. What Is the Timing of My Public Education Requirements?
Within 60 days from the time the lead action level is exceeded (or if you again exceed the lead action
level after having monitoring period(s) at or below the lead action level), you must:
Mail informational notices in or separately from water utility bills, along with a special alert in
large print;
Submit informational notices in major local newspapers (if applicable);
Deliver pamphlets or brochures to relevant facilities and organizations; and
Submit PSAs to radio and television stations (if applicable).
For as long as you continue to exceed the lead action level, you must:
Every 6 months:
Submit PSAs (if applicable).
Every 12 months:
Mail informational notices to your users;
Submit informational notices in major local newspapers (if applicable); and
Deliver pamphlets or brochures.
Within 10 days after the end of each period in which public education is required:
A letter to the State that demonstrates that you met your public education requirements.
5. What HI Do Not Provide Water to Any Facilities or Organizations that Typically
Provide Services to Pregnant Woman or Children?
The LCRMR allow CWSs that serve 3,300 or fewer people to limit distribution of brochures and
pamphlets to those facilities and organizations in their service area that are most likely to be
regularly visited by pregnant women and children. You are not required to distribute pamphlets or
brochures if you do not provide water to these types of facilities or organizations and your State has
adopted this LCRMR provision.
Public Education Guidance A-3 June 2002
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6. What If My Water System Provides Water Only to A Hospital or Prison?
The LCRMR recognizes that some CWSs are more similar to NTNCWSs (i.e., "special-case" CWSs).
With State approval, a CWS may use the NTNCWS-tailored language and delivery requirements if
the CWS serves a facility, such as a hospital or prison, where the population served has no control
over plumbing or treatment and where water is provided as part of the cost of overall services,
rather than as a separate and distinct charge. The public education requirements for these systems
would be as follows:
Within 60 days from the time the lead action level is exceeded (or if you again exceed the lead action
level after having monitoring period(s) at or below the lead action level), you must:
Display informational posters on lead in drinking water in a public place or common area in
each of the buildings served by the system; and
Distribute informational pamphlets and/or brochures on lead in drinking water to each
person served by the system. Your State may allow you to distribute these materials
electronically instead of or in combination with printed materials, as long as you reach the
same audience.
Repeat these actions at least once during each calendar year in which you exceeds the EPA lead action
level.
7. Do / Really Need An Action Plan?
The regulations do not require you to develop an action plan. However, a plan can help you to
define the program audience; outline a customer water testing program for lead; identify the types of
education materials that will be used; and determine how and when to best deliver the information
to your audience. We have provided an example action plan in Appendix B. This sample action
plan is geared toward larger CWSs and therefore, include some activities that may not apply to you
(such as newspaper notification and PSA).
Public Education Guidance A-4 June 2002
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Appendix B: Lead in Drinking Water Action Plan
Appendix B
Lead in Drinking Water Action Plan
Strategy for Implementing the Lead in Drinking Water
Public Education Program
Identify Your Audience
General public
Water customers
High-risk groups (pregnant women, infants, and children)
Non-English speaking customers and public
Organize a Task Force
Coordinate with local authorities, community organizations, and specialists who will be impacted by
this education program and who can provide you access to a wide range of community resources:
City, County, and State government officials (i.e., representatives of the city, county, or
municipal council; the Mayor's, City Administrator's, or County Commissioner's office);
City or county government agencies (i.e., the human resources, public affairs, health, and
environmental protection or water quality departments; and agencies responsible for
administering lead screening programs);
Representatives of the local public school system;
Representatives of public hospitals and/or clinics;
Members of active community service organizations (such as the Head Start Program; the
Women, Infants, and Children's Nutrition Program; family planning clinics; and the local
welfare agencies);
Civic groups (for instance, the Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood associations, and local
chapters of organizations like the League of Women Voters and the Sierra Club); and
Private sector (day-care centers, pediatricians, health care facilities or clinics, and hospitals).
Develop a Media Relations Program
Identify contacts at local daily and weekly newspapers to whom you will send news releases;
Identify contacts at local radio and television stations to whom you will send PSAs; and
Identify a specialist in media relations to facilitate your media relations program (perhaps a
representative of your city public affairs department can assist you).
Public Education Guidance B-1 June 2002
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Appendix B: Lead in Drinking Water Action Plan
Develop a Water Testing Program
Offer to sample, or arrange for a certified laboratory to sample, the tap water of any customer
who requests it. You are not required to conduct or pay for the sampling and analysis.
However, you must publish the names and phone numbers of at least two laboratories in the
area that customers can call to have their water tested for lead. This information must be
published in the required water bill inserts, newspaper notices, and pamphlets and/or
brochures. The required PSA (if applicable) must provide the phone number of the city or
water system for customers who wish to obtain information on testing. These customers
must be informed of the results of the testing.
Develop the Required Public Education Materials
Water testing information materials (see Appendix C)
Information materials: mailer or bill insert, pamphlet and/or brochure, notice in local
newspapers (see Appendix D)
Posters (see Appendix E)
PSA (see Appendix F)
Deliver Required Education Materials to Targeted Members
of Your Audience Within 60 Days of Exceeding the EPA Lead Action Level
Community Water Systems
General Public
Every 12 months, submit the specified information to the editorial departments of the major
daily and weekly newspapers circulated throughout the community served by your water
system. This requirement under the LCRMR has been eliminated for CWSs serving 500 and
fewer people. CWSs serving 501 to 3,300 people must first obtain permission from the State
before omitting this notification First check with your State to see if this requirement still
applies to you.
Every six months, submit the specified PSA to at least five of the radio and five television
stations with the largest audiences that broadcast to the community served by your water
system (unless you serve 3,300 and fewer people and the State has eliminated this requirement
as allowed under the LCRMR). first check with your State to see if you are required to
deliver PSAs.
Public Education Guidance B-2 June 2002
-------
Appendix B: Lead in Drinking Water Action Plan
Customers
Every 12 months, send notices to each customer containing the specified information with
the special alert in large print. The LCRMR allow these notices to be mailed separately from
the water bill if the format of your bill does not allow materials to be included (e.g., postcard
format or computer-generated self-mailers). The LCRMR also add flexibility for the alert to
be printed on the outside of the envelope or in the package if you do not have adequate space
on the water bill. First check with your State to see if can take advantage of these new
LCRMR provisions.
High-risk Groups
Every 12 months, deliver pamphlets and/or brochures that contain the specified information
to community facilities and organizations that serve pregnant women, infants, and children:
Public schools and/or local school boards;
City or county health departments;
Women, Infants, and Children and/or Head Start Programs (if available);
Public and private hospitals and clinics;
Pediatricians;
Family planning clinics; and
Local welfare agencies.
CWSs serving 3,300 or fewer people may limit this delivery to those facilities in their immediate
service area that are most likely to be visited by pregnant women and children if they also distribute
notices to every household they serve and the State has not notified them in writing that broader
distribution is required. CWSs serving 501 to 3,300 people must obtain State approval prior to
limiting delivery. First check with your State to determine your specific requirements.
REMEMBER: With State approval, a CWS may follow the
NTNCWS public education requirements if the CWS serves a
facility, such as a hospital or prison, where the population served
has no control over plumbing or treatment and where water is
provided as part of the cost of overall services, rather than as a
separate and distinct charge.
Non-transient, Non-community Water Systems and "Special-case" CWSs
Display informational posters in a public place or common area in each of the buildings you
serve.
Public Education Guidance
B-3
June 2002
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Appendix B: Lead in Drinking Water Action Plan
Provide informational pamphlets or brochures to each individual served by your system. The
LCRMR allow you to use hand delivery, electronic mail, or a combination of the two. First
check with your State to determine if they allow electronic delivery.
Non-English Speaking Customers and Members of Public
If a significant proportion of the people you serve are non-English speaking persons,
translate all public education materials into the appropriate languages to ensure that these
individuals and members of the public understand the information.
Fulfill Reporting Requirements to the State
Within 10 days after the end of each period in which public education is required
(§141.9Q(f))) submit written documentation to the State demonstrating that public education
materials meeting the content and delivery requirements of the regulation have been delivered
to the appropriate audiences. For CWSs, this letter must include a list of all newspapers,
radio and television stations (if applicable), facilities, and organizations which have received the
specified public education materials during the most recent period in which public education
was delivered. For NTNCWSs, include a list of the facilities and organizations to which the
brochures/pamphlets were distributed and the location of the places where the information
was posted.
All systems must include a certification that all public education materials met the content and
delivery requirements, as specified in the regulation. The LCRMR no longer require you to
send a list of organizations/facilities receiving public education materials to the State if this
list was previously submitted, is unchanged, and is not required by the State.
Deliver the Public Education Program for as Long as Your System Exceeds the
Lead Action Level
Continue delivery of the public education program for as long as your water system exceeds
the lead action level of 15 ppb, or 0.015 mg/L, as identified by tap water samples collected in
accordance with §141.86 of the regulations.
You may discontinue delivery of public education materials if your water system is at or
below the EPA lead action level during the most recent six-month monitoring period
conducted in accordance with §141.86 of the regulations.
Public Education Guidance B-4 June 2002
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Appendix C
Water Testing Information Materials
This Appendix provides two examples of information materials that address water testing. EPA
developed the first example Appendix C.I which provides systems with the basic required
language that they can provide to customers that need to take water samples.
The second example, in Appendix C.2, was developed by the Clean Water Fund of North Carolina
to address both copper and lead testing and is included here to provide systems with one example of
how the information materials can be presented to customers. The Clean Water Fund protocol was
also designed to determine the impact of flushing and provides collection procedures for first-draw
samples (discussed as Procedure 1) as well as purged-line samples (described under Procedure 2).
The lead and copper regulations only require you to collect first-draw samples. For the purposes of
a water testing program, you only need to consider those portions of the Clean Water Fund protocol
that apply to lead testing and first-draw samples.
Public Education Guidance C-1 June 2002
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Appendix C: Water Testing Information
Appendix C.I
Suggested Protocol for Homeowner Tap Water Sample Collection
These samples are being collected to determine lead and copper levels in your tap water. This sampling
effort is required by the Environmental Protection Agency and is being accomplished through the
cooperation of homeowners and residents.
Collect samples after your pipes have been unused for a minimum of six hours. Because of this
requirement, the best time to collect samples is either early in the morning or in the evening upon
returning from work. Be sure to use taps that have been in general use by your household for the past
few months. The collection procedure is described in more detail below
1. Make arrangements in advance to set dates for sample kit delivery and pick-up by water
department staff.
2. Allow for a minimum period of 6-8 hours during which there is no water use prior to sampling.
The water department recommends that either early mornings or evenings upon returning home
are the best sampling times to ensure that the necessary stagnant water conditions exist. Avoid
collecting samples from taps that have been unused for extended periods of time, such as several
weeks or months.
3. Use kitchen or bathroom cold-water faucet for sampling. Place the opened sample bottle below
the faucet and gently open the cold water tap. Fill the sample bottle to the line marked "1000-
mL" and turn off the water.
4. Tightly cap the sample bottle and place it in the sample kit provided. Please review the sample kit
label to ensure that all information contained on the label is correct.
5. If any plumbing repairs or replacement have been done in the home since the previous sampling
event, note this information on the label, in the space provided.
6. Place the sample kit outside of the residence in the same location where the kit was delivered in
order that department staff may pick up the sample kit.
7. Results from this monitoring effort will be provided to participating customers when reports are
generated for the State unless excessive lead and/or copper levels are found. In those cases,
immediate notification will be provided (usually 10 working days from the time of sample
collection).
Call at if you have any
questions regarding these instructions.
SAMPLE LABEL: TO BE COMPLETED BY RESIDENT
Water was last used: Time: Date:
Sample was collected: Time: Date:
I have read the above directions and have taken a tap sample in accordance with these directions.
Signature Date
Public Education Guidance C-2 June 2002
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Appendix C: Water Testing Information
Appendix C.2
Municipal Lead and Copper Testing Lead Service Line Protocol from Clean
Water Fund of North Carolina
Dear Friend:
Congratulations on your decision to have your tap water tested for lead and copper. As you may be aware,
lead contamination is the most widespread health threat from U.S. drinking water supplies because of the
large amounts of lead commonly used in pipe and solder.
Recent studies indicate that lead is even more harmful than previously believed to the brain and the rest of the
nervous system (especially for young children but in adults as well). Fortunately, however, most lead
contamination problems in drinking water can be alleviated simply by purging the plumbing line before
drawing water for drinking or cooking. This is why we require two samples (FIRST DRAW and PURGED
LINE) as part of our water testing service. Copper is also a toxic metal for which EPA has set a health
advisory "action level" of 1300 parts per billion. Excessive copper intake has been linked with enzyme
imbalances and degenerative spinal conditions.
In addition to testing your water for lead and copper, it is important to ensure that any plumbing repairs or
new plumbing in your home do not expose you to lead contamination. We have found that some plumbing
supply stores continue to sell lead solder without labels warning against its use on drinking water pipes despite
the fact that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has banned it for use with public water systems. If
you are having repair work done, we suggest you instruct your plumber in writing to use lead-free materials,
and check to see those instructions are followed.
Enclosed are two sample bottles for collecting your tap water. First, you must decide which of your taps you
want tested (bathroom or kitchen). Second, fill in your name and address on the labels provided. These
labels will identify your sample and will be used as address labels for sending your results, so please print
carefully. Please follow the procedures given below for collecting the samples.
Procedure 1: First-Draw Sample
This sample should be taken from the cold water tap sometime when the water has been standing in the
plumbing lines for at least six hours and before the toilet is flushed or water is run for shaving or showering.
Place a one-liter (or one-quart) container (preferably a plastic one, but glass is acceptable) under the faucet,
and turn on the cold water to a slow trickle. When the container is full, turn off the tap and leave it off until
you are ready to collect the second sample in Procedure 2. Now, stir the water in the container briefly with a
plastic (NOT METAL) spoon or other stirrer. Pour water from the container into the small sample bottle. Be
sure to fill the bottle to the very top so that little or no air will be present when the cap is screwed back on.
Dry the outside of the bottle. Immediately attach the "First-Draw" label to the sample bottle. (Make sure the
bottle is dry or the label won't stick well.)
Public Education Guidance C-3 June 2002
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Appendix C: Water Testing Information
Procedure 2: Purged Line Sample for Testing Lead Service Lines
This sample should be taken after standing water between the tap and the lead service line has been purged
through the plumbing system. Fully open the enclosed collapsible one-liter plastic container. Run the cold
water tap at a high rate until there is a significant change in the temperature of the water. Then reduce the
flow. Fill the one liter container. When it is full, replace the cap. Dry the outside of the container. Now, use
the gummed label with the words "Purged Line" to label this bottle.
Enclosed is UNC-A Lead and Copper Analyses Form. YOU MUST FILL OUT ALL STARRED ITEMS FOR
YOUR SAMPLES TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE LAB. Location where collected and location code may have been
filled out by your water utility. If those lines are blank, you should put your street address and the room in
your home where you took the sample (for example: 000 Wherever Rd, kitchen tap). By location code copy the
number located on the top line of the bottle labels provided with your kit.
Now, take the two labeled bottles and place them in the box in which they arrived along with the UNC-A
Lead and Copper Analyses Form. Be sure to fill out and enclose the questionnaire. PLEASE LEAVE BOTH
LABELS WITH YOUR ADDRESS ON THEM STAPLED TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE. They will be
the mailing labels used by UNCA to return your results to you. This will help ensure proper identification of
your samples. Place the label saying "Lead and Copper Testing, Environmental Studies Program UNC-A,
Asheville, NC 28804-3299" on the outside of the box.
Unless you have been instructed otherwise by your water utility, seal the box, apply postage, and drop it in the
mail. (First class postage costs under $5.00. Generally Parcel Post is considerably cheaper but costs vary
according to your location.) The laboratory results will be sent back to you within two to five weeks of
receipt, along with information on what the results mean and whether further action beyond line purging is
recommended. If you have any questions about how to take these samples or fill out the forms, please call
your local water utility.
You have just taken an important step toward protecting your family's health, and your participation in this
project will help determine the extent of the lead and copper problem in your community.
Thanks for your interest.
Ginny Lindsey
Asheville Office
Public Education Guidance C-4 June 2002
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Appendix D
Public Education Brochures
Appendix D provides template mailers/brochures for CWSs and NTNCWSs in PDF format.
Systems have the option of writing in their system-specific information or downloading these
documents from EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/implement.html. We are offering
several versions of these mailers/brochures because the LCRMR language can vary for water
systems that do not have lead service lines and/or building permit records available (i.e., systems may
be able to omit the public education language that pertains to these subjects). The different versions
of the mailers/brochures are summarized in Table D-l below.
Table D-l: List of Available Pamphlets and Brochures
For use by CWSs that have lead service lines (LSLs) and access to building
permit records.
For use by CWSs that have LSLs but do not have building permit records
available.
For use by CWSs that have no LSLs but have building permit records available.
For use by CWSs that have neither LSLs nor building permit records available.
For use by NTNCWSs or "special-case" CWSs that have LSLs.
For use by NTNCWSs or "special-case" CWSs that do not have LSLs
When folding the two-sided page into a pamphlet, be sure that the cover page ("Lead in Drinking
Water") is on top so that your customers will see this page first. In addition, four of the pamphlets
contain a blank panel and can be used as self-mailers. Due to the public education language that
must be included for CWSs that have LSLs, the pamphlets/brochures described in rows 1 and 2 of
Table D-l do not have adequate space to provide a blank panel.
Public Education Guidance
D-1
June 2002
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The United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and [insert name of water
supplier here] are concerned about lead in your
drinking water. Although most homes have very
low levels of lead in their drinking water, some
homes in the community have lead levels above
the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb),
or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water
(mg/L). Under Federal law we are required to
have a program in place to minimize lead in your
drinking water by [insert date when corrosion
control will be completed for your system].
This program includes:
1. Corrosion control treatment (treating the
water to make it less likely that lead will
dissolve into the water);
2. Source water treatment (removing any lead
that is in the water at the time it leaves our
treatment facility); and
3. A public education program.
We are also required to replace the portion
of each lead service line that we own if the line
contributes lead concentrations of more than 15
ppb after we have completed the comprehensive
treatment program. If you have any questions
about how we are carrying out the requirements
of the lead regulation please give us a call at
[insert water system's phone number here].
This brochure also explains the simple steps
you can take to protect yourself by reducing your
exposure to lead in drinking water.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD
Lead is a common metal found throughout the
environment in lead-based paint, air, soil, household
dust, food, certain types of pottery porcelain and
pewter, and water. Lead can pose a significant
risk to your health if too much of it enters your
body.
Lead builds up in the body over many years
and can cause damage to the brain, red blood
cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young
children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead
that won't hurt adults can slow down normal
mental and physical development of growing
bodies. In addition, a child at play often comes
into contact with sources of lead contamination
- like dirt and dust - that rarely affect an adult. It
is important to wash children's hands and toys
often, and to try to make sure they only put food
in their mouths.
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Lead in drinking water, although rarely the
sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly
increase a person's total lead exposure,
particularly the exposure of infants who drink
baby formulas and concentrated juices that are
mixed with water. EPA estimates that drinking
water can make up 20% or more of a person's
total exposure to lead.
HOW LEAD ENTERS OUR WATER
Lead is unusual among drinking water
contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in
water supplies like rivers and lakes. Lead enters
drinking water primarily as a result of the
corrosion, or wearing away, of materials
containing lead in the water distribution system
and household plumbing. These materials
include lead-based solder used to join copper
pipe, brass and chrome-plated brass faucets, and
in some cases, pipes made of lead that connect
your house to the water main (service lines). In
1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder
containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted
the lead content of faucets, pipes and other
plumbing materials to 8.0%.
When water stands in lead pipes or
plumbing systems containing lead for several
hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your
drinking water. This means the first water drawn
from the tap in the morning, or later in the
afternoon after returning from work or school,
can contain fairly high levels of lead.
STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Despite our best efforts mentioned earlier
to control water corrosivity and remove lead
from the water supply, lead levels in some homes
or buildings can be high. To find out whether
you need to take action in your own home, have
your drinking water tested to determine if it
contains excessive concentrations of lead.
Testing the water is essential because you cannot see,
taste, or smell lead in drinking water. Some local
laboratories that can provide this service are listed at
the bottom of this brochure. For more information
on having your water tested, please call [insert
phone number of water system].
If a water test indicates that the drinking water
drawn from a tap in your home contains lead above
15 ppb, then you should take the following
precautions:
1. FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM.
Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive
measure you can take to protect your family's health.
Flushing usually uses less than one or two gallons of
water and costs less than [insert a cost estimate
based on flushing two times a day for 30 days]
per month.
To flush, let the water run from the tap before
using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in
a faucet has gone unused for more than six hours.
The longer water resides in your home's plumbing,
the more lead it may contain. Flushing the tap means
running the cold water faucet until the water gets
noticeably colder, usually about 15 - 30 seconds. If
your house has a lead service line to the water main,
you may have to flush the water for a longer time,
perhaps one minute, before drinking. Although toilet
flushing or showering flushes water through a portion
of your home's plumbing system, you still need to
flush the water in each faucet before using it for
drinking or cooking.
To conserve water, fill a couple of bottles for
drinking water after flushing the tap, and whenever
possible use the first flush water to wash dishes or
water plants.
If you live in a high-rise building, letting the
water flow before using it may not lessen your risk
from lead. This is because high rise plumbing systems
have more, and sometimes larger pipes than smaller
buildings. Ask your landlord for help in locating the
source of the lead and for advice on reducing the lead
level.
2. USE ONLY COLD WATER FOR COOKING
AND DRINKING.
Try not to cook with, or drink
water from the hot water tap.
Hot water can dissolve more
lead more quickly than cold
water. If you need hot water,
draw water from the cold tap
and heat it on the stove.
3. REMOVE LOOSE SOLDER AND DEBRIS
FROM PLUMBING MATERIALS.
Remove loose solder and debris from the plumbing
materials installed in newly constructed homes, or
homes in which the plumbing has recently been
replaced. To do this, remove the faucet strainers
from all taps and run the water from 3-5 minutes.
Thereafter, periodically remove the strainers and
flush out any debris that has accumulated over time.
4. IDENTIFY AND REPLACE LEAD SOLDER.
If your copper pipes are joined with lead solder that
has been installed illegally since it was banned in
1986, notify the plumber who did the work and
request that he or she replace the lead solder with
lead-free solder. Lead solder looks dull gray, and
when scratched with a key looks shiny. In addition,
notify your State [insert name of department
responsible for enforcing the Safe Drinking
Water Act in your State] about the violation.
5. FIND OUT WHETHER YOUR SERVICE
LINE IS MADE OF LEAD.
Determine whether or not the service line that
connects your home or apartment to the water main
is made of lead. The best way to determine if your
service line is made of lead is by either hiring a
licensed plumber to inspect the line or by contacting
the plumbing contractor who installed the line. You
can identify the plumbing contractor by checking the
city's record of building permits which should be
maintained in the files of the [insert name of
department that issues building permits].
A licensed plumber can at the same time check
to see if your home's plumbing contains lead solder,
lead pipes, or pipe fittings that contain lead. The
public water system that delivers water to your home
should also maintain records of the materials located
in the distribution system. If the service line that
connects your dwelling to the water main contributes
more than 15 ppb to drinking water, after our
comprehensive treatment program is in place, we are
required to replace the portion of the line we own.
If the line is only partially owned by the [insert the
name of the city, county, or water system that
owns the line], we are required to provide the
owner of the privately-owned portion of the line with
information on how to replace the privately-owned
portion of the service line, and offer to replace that
portion of the line at the owner's expense. If we
replace only the portion of
the line that we own, we
also are required to notify
you in advance and provide
you with information on the ^iSSS^^^^^" A
steps you can take t-n i^^fc^!.^^ *
-------
minimize exposure to any temporary increase in lead
levels that may result from the partial replacement; to
take a follow-up sample at our expense from the line
within 72 hours after the partial replacement; and to
mail or otherwise provide you with the results of that
sample within three business days of receiving the
results. Acceptable replacement alternatives include
copper, steel, iron, and plastic pipes.
6. HAVE AN ELECTRICIAN CHECK YOUR
WIRING.
If grounding wires from the electrical system are
attached to your pipes, corrosion may be greater.
Check with a licensed electrician or your local electrical
code to determine if your wiring can be grounded
elsewhere. DO NOT attempt to change the wiring
yourself because improper grounding can cause
electrical shock and fire hazards.
IF LEAD LEVEL PERSISTS
The steps described above will reduce the lead
concentrations in your drinking water. However, if a
water test indicates that the drinking water coming
from your tap contains lead concentrations in excess
of 15 ppb after flushing, or after we have completed
our actions to minimize lead levels, then you may want
to take the following; additional measures:
7. PURCHASE OR LEASE A HOME
TREATMENT DEVICE.
Home treatment devices are limited in that each unit
treats only the water that flows from the faucet to
which it is connected, and all of the devices require
periodic maintenance and replacement. Devices such
as reverse osmosis systems or distillers can effectively
remove lead from your drinking water. Some
activated carbon filters may reduce lead levels at the
tap. However, all lead reduction claims should be
investigated. Be sure to check the actual performance
of a specific treatment device before and after
installing; the unit.
8. PURCHASE BOTTLED
WATER FOR DRINKING
AND COOKING
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can consult a variety of sources for
additional information:
Your family doctor or pediatrician can
perform a blood test for lead and provide you
with information about the health effects of lead.
State and local government agencies that
can be contacted include:
[insert the name of city or county department
of public utilities] at [insert phone number]
can provide you with information about your
community's water supply, and a list of local
laboratories that have been certified by EPA for
testing water quality.
[insert the name of city or county department
that issues building permits] at [insert phone
number] can provide you with information
about building permit records that should
contain the names of plumbing contractors that
plumbed your home; and
[insert the name of the State Department of
Public Health] at [insert phone number] or
the [insert the name of the city or county
health department] at [insert phone number]
can provide you with information about the
health effects of lead and how you can have your
child's blood tested.
The following is a list of some State approved
laboratories in your area that you can call to have
your water tested for lead, [insert names and
phone numbers of at least two laboratories]
-------
The United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and [insert name of water
supplier here] are concerned about lead in your
drinking water. Although most homes have very
low levels of lead in their drinking water, some
homes in the community have lead levels above
the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb),
or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water
(mg/L). Under Federal law we are required to
have a program in place to minimize lead in your
drinking water by [insert date when corrosion
control will be completed for your system].
This program includes:
1. Corrosion control treatment (treating the
water to make it less likely that lead will
dissolve into the water);
2. Source water treatment (removing any lead
that is in the water at the time it leaves our
treatment facility); and
3. A public education program.
We are also required to replace the portion
of each lead service line that we own if the line
contributes lead concentrations of more than 15
ppb after we have completed the comprehensive
treatment program. If you have any questions
about how we are carrying out the requirements
of the lead regulation please give us a call at
[insert water system's phone number here].
This brochure also explains the simple steps
you can take to protect yourself by reducing your
exposure to lead in drinking water.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD
Lead is a common metal found throughout
the environment in lead-based paint, air, soil,
household dust, food, certain types of pottery
porcelain and pewter, and water. Lead can
pose a significant risk to your health if too
much of it enters your body.
Lead builds up in the body over many
years and can cause damage to the brain, red
blood cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is to
young children and pregnant women. Amounts
of lead that won't hurt adults can slow down
normal mental and physical development of
growing bodies. In addition, a child at play
often comes into contact with sources of lead
contamination - like dirt and dust - that rarely
affect an adult. It is important to wash
children's hands and toys often, and to try to
make sure they only put food in their mouths.
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Lead in drinking water, although rarely
the sole cause of lead poisoning, can
significantly increase a person's total lead
exposure, particularly the exposure of infants
who drink baby formulas and concentrated
juices that are mixed with water. EPA
estimates that drinking water can make up 20%
or more of a person's total exposure to lead.
HOW LEAD ENTERS OUR WATER
Lead is unusual among drinking water
contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally
in water supplies like rivers and lakes. Lead
enters drinking water primarily as a result of the
corrosion, or wearing away, of materials
containing lead in the water distribution system
and household plumbing. These materials
include lead-based solder used to join copper
pipe, brass and chrome-plated brass faucets,
and in some cases, pipes made of lead that
connect your house to the water main (service
lines). In 1986, Congress banned the use of
lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead,
and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes
and other plumbing materials to 8.0%.
When water stands in lead pipes or
plumbing systems containing lead for several
hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your
drinking water. This means the first water
drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in
the afternoon after returning from work or
school, can contain fairly high levels of lead.
STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Despite our best efforts mentioned earlier
to control water corrosivity and remove lead
from the water supply, lead levels in some
homes or buildings can be high. To find out
whether you need to take action in your own
home, have your drinking water tested to
determine if it contains excessive
concentrations of lead. Testing the water is
essential because you cannot see, taste, or smell
lead in drinking water. Some local laboratories
that can provide this service are listed at the
bottom of this brochure. For more information on
having your water tested, please call [insert phone
number of water system].
If a water test indicates that the drinking
water drawn from a tap in your home contains lead
above 15 ppb, then you should take the following
precautions:
1. FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM.
Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive
measure you can take to protect your family's
health. Flushing usually uses less than one or two
gallons of water and costs less than [insert a cost
estimate based on flushing two times a day for
30 days] per month.
To flush, let the water run from the tap
before using it for drinking or cooking any time the
water in a faucet has gone unused for more than six
hours. The longer water resides in your home's
plumbing, the more lead it may contain. Flushing
the tap means running the cold water faucet until
the water gets noticeably colder, usually about 15 -
30 seconds. If your house has a lead service line to
the water main, you may have to flush the water for
a longer time, perhaps one minute, before drinking.
Although toilet flushing or showering flushes water
through a portion of your home's plumbing system,
you still need to flush the water in each faucet
before using it for drinking or cooking.
To conserve water, fill a couple of bottles for
drinking water after flushing the tap, and whenever
possible use the first flush water to wash dishes or
water plants.
If you live in a high-rise building, letting the
water flow before using it may not lessen your risk
from lead. This is because high rise plumbing
systems have more, and sometimes larger pipes
than smaller buildings. Ask your landlord for help
in locating the source of the lead and for advice on
reducing the lead level.
2. USE ONLY COLD WATER FOR COOKING
AND DRINKING.
Try not to cook with,
or drink water from the hot
water tap. Hot water can
dissolve more lead more
quickly than cold water. If
you need hot water, draw
water from the cold tap and
heat it on the stove.
3. REMOVE LOOSE SOLDER AND DEBRIS
FROM PLUMBING MATERIALS.
Remove loose solder and debris from the
plumbing materials installed in newly constructed
homes, or homes in which the plumbing has
recently been replaced. To do this, remove the
faucet strainers from all taps and run the water
from 3-5 minutes. Thereafter, periodically remove
the strainers and flush out any debris that has
accumulated over time.
4. IDENTIFY AND REPLACE LEAD
SOLDER.
If your copper pipes are joined with lead
solder that has been installed illegally since it was
banned in 1986, notify the plumber who did the
work and request that he or she replace the lead
solder with lead-free solder. Lead solder looks dull
gray, and when scratched with a key looks shiny. In
addition, notify your State [insert name of
department responsible for enforcing the Safe
Drinking Water Act in your State] about the
violation.
5. FIND OUT WHETHER YOUR SERVICE
LINE IS MADE OF LEAD.
Determine whether or not the service line
that connects your home or apartment to the water
main is made of lead. The best way to determine if
your service line is made of lead is by either hiring a
licensed plumber to inspect the line or by
contacting the plumbing contractor who installed
the line. You can identify the plumbing contractor
by checking the cit/s record of building permits
which should be maintained in the files of the
[insert name of department that issues
building permits].
A licensed plumber can at the same time
check to see if your home's plumbing contains lead
solder, lead pipes, or pipe fittings that contain lead.
The public water system that delivers water to your
home should also maintain records of the materials
located in the distribution system. If the service
line that connects your dwelling to the water main
contributes more than 15 ppb to drinking water,
after our comprehensive treatment program is in
place, we are required to replace the portion of the
line we own. If the line is only partially owned by
the [insert the name of the city, county, or
water system that owns the line], we are
required to provide the owner of the
privately-owned portion of the line with
information on how to replace the privately-owned
portion of the service line, and offer to replace that
portion of the line at the owner's expense. If we
replace only the portion of the line that we own,
we also are required to notify you in advance and
provide you with information on the steps you can
take to minimize exposure to any temporary
increase in lead levels that may result from the
partial replacement; to take a follow-up sample at
our expense from the line
within 72 hours after the
partial replacement; and
to mail or otherwise
provide you with the
results of that sample
within three business days
-------
of receiving the results. Acceptable replacement
alternatives include copper, steel, iron, and plastic
pipes.
6. HAVE AN ELECTRICIAN CHECK YOUR
WIRING.
If grounding wires from the electrical system
are attached to your pipes, corrosion may be greater.
Check with a licensed electrician or your local
electrical code to determine if your wiring can be
grounded elsewhere. DO NOT attempt to change
the wiring yourself because improper grounding can
cause electrical shock and fire hazards.
IF LEAD LEVEL PERSISTS
The steps described above will reduce the lead
concentrations in your drinking water. However, if a
water test indicates that the drinking water coming
from your tap contains lead concentrations in excess
of 15 ppb after flushing, or after we have completed
our actions to minimize lead levels, then you may
want to take the following additional measures:
7. PURCHASE OR LEASE A HOME
TREATMENT DEVICE.
Home treatment devices are limited in that
each unit treats only the water that flows from the
faucet to which it is connected, and all of the devices
require periodic maintenance and replacement.
Devices such as reverse osmosis systems or distillers
can effectively remove lead from your drinking
water. Some activated carbon filters may reduce
lead levels at the tap. However, all lead reduction
claims should be investigated. Be sure to check the
actual performance of a specific treatment device
before and after installing- the unit.
8. PURCHASE
OTTLED WATER FOR
RINKING AND
OOKING
D
C
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can consult a variety of sources for
additional information:
Your family doctor or pediatrician can
perform a blood test for lead and provide you
with information about the health effects of
lead.
State and local government agencies that
can be contacted include:
[insert the name of city or county
department of public utilities] at [insert
phone number] can provide you with
information about your community's water
supply, and a list of local laboratories that have
been certified by EPA for testing water quality,
and
[insert the name of the State Department of
Public Health] at [insert phone number] or
the [insert the name of the city or county
health department] at [insert phone
number] can provide you with information
about the health effects of lead and how you
can have your child's blood tested.
The following is a list of some State approved
laboratories in your area that you can call to
have your water tested for lead, [insert names
and phone numbers of at least two
laboratories]
HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD
-------
Lead is a common metal found throughout
the environment in lead-based paint, air, soil,
household dust, food, certain types of pottery
porcelain and pewter, and water. Lead can pose
a significant risk to your health if too much of it
enters your body.
Lead builds up in the body over many years
and can cause damage to the brain, red blood
cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young
children and pregnant women. Amounts of
lead that won't hurt adults can slow down
normal mental and physical development of
growing bodies. In addition, a child at play
often comes into contact with sources of lead
contamination - like dirt and dust - that rarely
affect an adult. It is important to wash
children's hands and toys often, and to try to
make sure they only put food in their mouths.
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Lead in drinking water, although rarely the
sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly
increase a person's total lead exposure,
particularly the exposure of infants who drink
baby formulas and concentrated juices that are
mixed with water. EPA estimates that drinking
water can make up 20% or more of a person's
total exposure to lead.
HOW LEAD ENTERS OUR WATER
Unlike most drinking water contaminants,
lead is unusual in that it seldom occurs naturally
in water supplies like rivers and lakes. Lead
enters drinking water primarily as a result of the
corrosion, or wearing away, of materials
containing lead in the water distribution system
and household plumbing. These materials
include lead-based solder used to join copper
pipe, brass and chrome-plated brass faucets,
and in some cases, pipes made of lead that
connect your house to the water main (service
lines). In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead
solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and
restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes and
other plumbing materials to 8.0%.
When water stands in lead pipes or
plumbing systems containing lead for several
hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your
drinking water. This means the first water
drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in
the afternoon after returning from work or
school, can contain fairly high levels of lead.
STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Despite our best efforts mentioned
earlier to control water corrosivity and
remove lead from the water supply, lead
levels in some homes or buildings can be
high. To find out whether you need to
take action in your own home, have your
drinking water tested to determine if it
contains excessive concentrations of lead.
Testing the water is essential because you
cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking
water. Some local laboratories that can
provide this service are listed at the
bottom of this brochure. For more
information on having your water tested,
please call [insert phone number of
water system].
If a water test indicates that the
drinking water drawn from a tap in your
home contains lead above 15 ppb, then
you should take the following precautions:
1. FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM.
Flushing tap water is a simple and
inexpensive measure you can take to
protect your family's health. Flushing
usually uses less than one or two gallons of
water and costs less than [insert a cost
estimate based on flushing two times a
day for 30 days] per month.
To flush, let the water run from the
tap before using it for drinking or cooking
any time the water in a faucet has gone
unused for more than six hours. The
longer water resides in your home's
plumbing, the more lead it may contain.
Flushing the tap means running the cold
water faucet until the water gets noticeably
colder, usually about 15-30 seconds. If
your house has a lead service line to the
water main, you may have to flush the
water for a longer time, perhaps one
minute, before drinking. Although toilet
flushing or showering flushes water
through a portion of your home's
plumbing system, you still need to flush
the water in each faucet before using it for
drinking or cooking.
To conserve water, fill a couple of
bottles for drinking water after flushing
the tap, and whenever possible use the
first flush water to wash dishes or water
plants.
If you live in a high-rise building,
letting the water flow before using it may
not lessen your risk from lead. This is
because high rise plumbing systems have
more, and sometimes larger pipes than
smaller buildings. Ask your landlord for
help in locating the source of the lead and for
advice on reducing the lead level.
2. USE ONLY COLD WATER FOR
COOKING AND DRINKING.
Try not to cook with, or drink water from
the hot water tap. Hot
water can dissolve more
lead more quickly than cold
water. If you need hot
water, draw water from the
cold tap and heat it on the
stove.
3. REMOVE LOOSE SOLDER AND
DEBRIS FROM PLUMBING MATERIALS.
Remove loose solder and debris from the
plumbing materials installed in newly
constructed homes, or homes in which the
plumbing has recently been replaced. To do
this, remove the faucet strainers from all taps
and run the water from 3-5 minutes.
Thereafter, periodically remove the strainers
and flush out any debris that has accumulated
over time.
4. IDENTIFY AND REPLACE LEAD
SOLDER.
If your copper pipes are joined with lead
solder that has been installed illegally since it
was banned in 1986, notify the plumber who
did the work and request that he or she replace
the lead solder with lead-free solder. Lead
solder looks dull gray, and when scratched with
a key looks shiny. In addition, notify your
State [insert name of department
responsible for enforcing the Safe Drinking
Water Act in your State] about the violation.
5. HAVE AN ELECTRICIAN CHECK
YOUR WIRING.
If grounding wires from the electrical
system are attached to your pipes, corrosion
may be greater. Check with a licensed
electrician or your local electrical code to
determine if your wiring can be grounded
elsewhere. DO NOT attempt to change the
wiring yourself because improper grounding
can cause electrical shock and fire hazards.
IF LEAD LEVEL PERSISTS
The steps described above will reduce the
lead concentrations in your drinking water.
However, if a water test indicates that the
drinking water coming from your tap contains
lead concentrations in excess of 15 ppb after
flushing, or after we have completed our
actions to minimize lead levels, then you may
want to take the following additional
measures:
6. PURCHASE OR LEASE A HOME
TREATMENT DEVICE.
Home treatment devices are limited in
that each unit treats only the water that flows
from the faucet to which it is connected, and
all of the devices require periodic maintenance
and replacement. Devices such as reverse
osmosis systems or distillers can effectively
remove lead from your drinking water. Some
activated carbon filters may reduce lead levels
at the tap. However, all lead reduction claims
should bemvestigated. Be sure to check the
actual performance of a specific treatment
device before and after installing; the unit.
7. PURCHASE BOTTLED
WATER FOR DRINKING AND
COOKING.
-------
The United States Protection Agency (EPA)
and [insert name of water supplier here] are
concerned about lead in your drinking water.
Although most homes have very low levels of
lead in their drinking water, some homes in the
community have lead levels above the EPA
action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or
0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water
(mg/L). Under Federal law we are required to
have a program in place to minimize lead in
your drinking water by [insert date when
corrosion control will be completed for your
system].
This program includes:
1. Corrosion control treatment (treating the
water to make it less likely that lead will
dissolve into the water);
2. Source water treatment (removing any lead
that is in the water at the time it leaves our
treatment facility); and
3. A public education program.
If you have any questions about how we
are carrying out the requirements of the lead
regulation please give us a call at [insert water
system's phone number here].
This brochure also explains the simple
steps you can take to protect yourself by
reducing your exposure to lead in drinking
water.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can consult a variety of sources for
additional information:
Your family doctor or pediatrician can
perform a blood test for lead and provide
you with information about the health
effects of lead.
State and local government agencies
that can be contacted include:
[insert the name of city or county
department of public utilities] at [insert
phone number] can provide you with
information about your community's water
supply, and a list of local laboratories that
have been certified by EPA for testing
water quality; and
[insert the name of city or county
department that issues building
permits] at [insert phone number] can
provide you with information about
building permit records that should
contain the names of plumbing
contractors that plumbed your home; and
[insert the name of the State
Department of Public Health] at [insert
phone number] or the [insert the name
of the city or county health
department] at [insert phone number]
can provide you with information about
the health effects of lead and how you can
have your child's blood tested.
The following is a list of some State
approved laboratories in your area that you
can call to have your water tested for lead.
[insert names and phone numbers of at
least two laboratories]
-------
HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD
Lead is a common metal found throughout the
environment in lead-based paint, air, soil,
household dust, food, certain types of pottery
porcelain and pewter, and water. Lead can pose
a significant risk to your health if too much of it
enters your body.
Lead builds up in the body over many years
and can cause damage to the brain, red blood
cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young
children and pregnant women. Amounts of
lead that won't hurt adults can slow down
normal mental and physical development of
growing bodies. In addition, a child at play
often comes into contact with sources of lead
contamination - like dirt and dust - that rarely
affect an adult. It is important to wash
children's hands and toys often, and to try to
make sure they only put food in their mouths.
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Lead in drinking water, although rarely the
sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly
increase a person's total lead exposure,
particularly the exposure of infants who drink
baby formulas and concentrated juices that are
mixed with water. EPA estimates that drinking
water can make up 20% or more of a person's
total exposure to lead.
HOW LEAD ENTERS OUR WATER
Unlike most drinking water contaminants,
lead is unusual in that it seldom occurs naturally
in water supplies like rivers and lakes. Lead
enters drinking water primarily as a result of the
corrosion, or wearing away, of materials
containing lead in the water distribution system
and household plumbing. These materials
include lead-based solder used to join copper
pipe, brass and chrome-plated brass faucets,
and in some cases, pipes made of lead that
connect your house to the water main (service
lines). In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead
solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and
restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes and
other plumbing materials to 8.0%.
When water stands in lead pipes or
plumbing systems containing lead for several
hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your
drinking water. This means the first water
drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in
the afternoon after returning from work or
school, can contain fairly high levels of lead.
STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Despite our best efforts mentioned earlier
to control water corrosivity and remove lead
from the water supply, lead levels in some
homes or buildings can be high. To find
out whether you need to take action in
your own home, have your drinking water
tested to determine if it contains excessive
concentrations of lead. Testing the water
is essential because you cannot see, taste,
or smell lead in drinking water. Some local
laboratories that can provide this service
are listed at the bottom of this brochure.
For more information on having your
water tested, please call [insert phone
number of water system].
If a water test indicates that the
drinking water drawn from a tap in your
home contains lead above 15 ppb, then
you should take the following precautions:
1. FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM.
Flushing tap water is a simple and
inexpensive measure you can take to
protect your family's health. Flushing
usually uses less than one or two gallons of
water and costs less than [insert a cost
estimate based on flushing two times a
day for 30 days] per month.
To flush, let the water run from the
tap before using it for drinking or cooking
any time the water in a faucet has gone
unused for more than six hours. The
longer water resides in your home's
plumbing, the more lead it may contain.
Flushing the tap means running the cold
water faucet until the water gets noticeably
colder, usually about 15-30 seconds. If
your house has a lead service line to the
water main, you may have to flush the
water for a longer time, perhaps one
minute, before drinking. Although toilet
flushing or showering flushes water
through a portion of your home's
plumbing system, you still need to flush
the water in each faucet before using it for
drinking or cooking.
To conserve water, fill a couple of
bottles for drinking water after flushing
the tap, and whenever possible use the
first flush water to wash dishes or water
plants.
If you live in a high-rise building,
letting the water flow before using it may
not lessen your risk from lead. This is
because high rise plumbing systems have
more, and sometimes larger pipes than
smaller buildings. Ask
your landlord for help
in locating the source
of the lead and for
advice on reducing the
lead level.
2. USE ONLY COLD WATER FOR
COOKING AND DRINKING.
Try not to cook with, or drink water from the
hot water tap. Hot water
can dissolve more lead
more quickly than cold
water. If you need hot
water, draw water from the
cold tap and heat it on the
stove.
3. REMOVE LOOSE SOLDER AND
DEBRIS FROM PLUMBING MATERIALS.
Remove loose solder and debris from the
plumbing materials installed in newly
constructed homes, or homes in which the
plumbing has recently been replaced. To do
this, remove the faucet strainers from all taps
and run the water from 3-5 minutes.
Thereafter, periodically remove the strainers
and flush out any debris that has accumulated
over time.
4. IDENTIFY AND REPLACE LEAD
SOLDER.
If your copper pipes are joined with lead
solder that has been installed illegally since it
was banned in 1986, notify the plumber who
did the work and request that he or she replace
the lead solder with lead-free solder. Lead
solder looks dull gray, and when scratched with
a key looks shiny. In addition, notify your
State [insert name of department
responsible for enforcing the Safe Drinking
Water Act in your State] about the violation.
5. HAVE AN ELECTRICIAN CHECK
YOUR WIRING.
If grounding wires from the electrical
system are attached to your pipes, corrosion
may be greater. Check with a licensed
electrician or your local electrical code to
determine if your wiring can be grounded
elsewhere. DO NOT attempt to change the
wiring yourself because improper grounding
can cause electrical shock and fire hazards.
IF LEAD LEVEL PERSISTS
The steps described above will reduce the
lead concentrations in your drinking water.
However, if a water test indicates that the
drinking water coming from your tap contains
lead concentrations in excess of 15 ppb after
flushing, or after we have completed our
actions to minimize lead levels, then you may
want to take the following- additional measures:
6. PURCHASE OR LEASE A HOME
TREATMENT DEVICE.
Home treatment devices are limited in that
each unit treats only the water that flows from
the faucet to which it is connected, and all of
the devices require periodic maintenance and
replacement. Devices such as reverse osmosis
systems or distillers can effectively remove
lead from your drinking water. Some activated
carbon filters may reduce lead levels at the tap.
However, all lead reduction claims should be
investigated. Be sure to check the actual
performance of a specific treatment device
before and after installing; the unit.
7. PURCHASE BOTTLED
WATER FOR DRINKING AND
COOKING.
-------
The United States Protection Agency (EPA)
and [insert name of water supplier here] are
concerned about lead in your drinking water.
Although most homes have very low levels of
lead in their drinking water, some homes in the
community have lead levels above the EPA
action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or
0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water
(mg/L). Under Federal law we are required to
have a program in place to minimize lead in
your drinking water by [insert date when
corrosion control will be completed for your
system].
This program includes:
1. Corrosion control treatment (treating the
water to make it less likely that lead will
dissolve into the water);
2. Source water treatment (removing any lead
that is in the water at the time it leaves our
treatment facility); and
3. A public education program.
If you have any questions about how we
are carrying out the requirements of the lead
regulation please give us a call at [insert water
system's phone number here].
This brochure also explains the simple
steps you can take to protect yourself by
reducing your exposure to lead in drinking
water.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can consult a variety of sources for
additional information:
Your family doctor or pediatrician can
perform a blood test for lead and provide
you with information about the health
effects of lead.
State and local government agencies
that can be contacted include:
[insert the name of city or county
department of public utilities] at [insert
phone number] can provide you with
information about your community's water
supply, and a list of local laboratories that
have been certified by EPA for testing
water quality; and [insert the name of the
State Department of Public Health] at
[insert phone number] or the [insert the
name of the city or county health
department] at [insert phone number]
can provide you with information about
the health effects of lead and how you can
have your child's blood tested.
The following is a list of some State
approved laboratories in your area that you
can call to have your water tested for lead.
[insert names and phone numbers of at
least two laboratories]
Public Education Guidance
D-9
June 2002
-------
-------
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
[insert your water system name] are concerned about lead in your
drinking water. Although most homes have very low levels of lead
in their drinking water, some homes in the community have lead
levels above the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or
0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water (mg/L). Under Federal
law, we are required to have a program in place to minimize lead in
your drinking water by [insert date when corrosion control will
be completed for your system].
This program includes:
1. Corrosion control treatment (treating the water to make it less
likely that lead will dissolve into the water);
2. Source water treatment (removing any lead that is in the water
at the time it leaves our treatment facility); and
3. A public education program.
We are also required to replace the portion of each lead service
line that we own if the line contributes lead concentrations of more
than 15 ppb after we have completed the comprehensive treatment
program. If you have any questions about how we are carrying out
the requirements of the lead regulation please give us a call at [insert
water system's phone number here].
This brochure also explains the simple steps you can take to
protect yourself by reducing your exposure to lead in drinking water.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD
Lead is found throughout the environment in lead-based paint,
air, soil, household dust, food, certain types of pottery porcelain and
pewter, and water. Lead can pose a significant risk to your health if
too much of it enters your body.
Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause
damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is
to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that won't
hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development
of growing bodies. In addition, a child at play often comes into
contact with sources of lead contamination - like dirt and dust - that
rarely affect an adult. It is important to wash children's hands and
toys often, and to try to make sure they only put food in their mouths.
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead
poisoning, can significantly increase a person's total lead exposure,
particularly the exposure of infants who drink baby formulas and
concentrated juices that are mixed with water. EPA estimates that
drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person's total exposure
to lead.
HOW LEAD ENTERS OUR WATER
Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it
seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes. Lead
enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing
away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and
household plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used
to join copper pipe, brass and chrome-plated brass faucets, and in
some cases, pipes made of lead that connect your house to the water
main (service lines). In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder
containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of
faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials to 8.0%.
When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems
containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into
your drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in
the morning, or later in the afternoon after returning from work or
school, can contain fairly high levels of lead.
STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO LEAD IN
DRINKING WATER
1. FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM. Let the water run from the tap before
using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet has
gone unused for more than six hours. The longer water resides in
plumbing the more lead it may contain. Flushing the tap means
running the cold water faucet for about 15-30 seconds. Although
toilet flushing or showering flushes water through a portion of the
plumbing system, you still need to flush the water in each faucet
before using it for drinking or cooking. Flushing tap water is a simple
and inexpensive measure you can take to protect your health. It
usually uses less than one or two gallons of water.
2. USE ONLY COLD WATER FOR COOKING AND
DRINKING. Do not cook with, or drink water from the hot
water tap. Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold
water. If you need hot water, draw water from the cold tap and then
heat it.
3. USE BOTTLED WATER. The steps
described above will reduce the lead
concentrations in your drinking water.
However, if you are still concerned, you may
wish to use bottled water for drinking and
coo king-.
-------
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can consult a variety of sources for additional information. Your
family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and
provide you with information about the health effects of lead.
State and local government agencies that can be contacted include:
[insert the name or title of facility official
if appropriate] at [insert phone number]
can provide you with information about your
facility's water supply; and
[insert the name or title of the State
Department of Public Health] at [insert
phone number] or the [insert the name of the city or county
health department] at [insert phone number] can provide you with
information about the health effects of lead.
-------
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
[insert your water system name] are concerned about lead in
your drinking water. Although most homes have very low levels
of lead in their drinking water, some homes in the community
have lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion
(ppb), or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water (mg/L).
Under Federal law, we are required to have a program in place to
minimize lead in your drinking water by [insert date when
corrosion control will be completed for your system].
This program includes:
1. Corrosion control treatment (treating the water to make it
less likely that lead will dissolve into the water);
2. Source water treatment (removing any lead that is in the
water at the time it leaves our treatment facility); and
3. A public education program.
If you have any questions about how we are carrying out the
requirements of the lead regulation please give us a call at [insert
water system's phone number here].
This brochure also explains the simple steps you can take to
protect yourself by reducing your exposure to lead in drinking
water.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD
Lead is found throughout the environment in lead-based paint,
air, soil, household dust, food, certain types of pottery porcelain and
pewter, and water. Lead can pose a significant risk to your health if
too much of it enters your body.
Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause
damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is
to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that won't
hurt adults can slow down normal mental and physical development of
growing bodies. In addition, a child at play often comes into contact
with sources of lead contamination - like dirt and dust - that rarely
affect an adult. It is important to wash children's hands and toys
often, and to try to make sure they only put food in their mouths.
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead
poisoning, can significantly increase a person's total lead exposure,
particularly the exposure of infants who drink baby formulas and
concentrated juices that are mixed with water. EPA estimates that
drinking water can make up 20% or more of a person's total exposure
to lead.
HOW LEAD ENTERS OUR WATER
Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it
seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers and lakes. Lead
enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing
away, of materials containing lead in the water distribution system and
household plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used
to join copper pipe, brass and chrome-plated brass faucets, and in
some cases, pipes made of lead that connect your house to the water
main (service lines). In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder
containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of
faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials to 8.0%.
When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing
lead for several hours or more, the lead may dissolve into your
drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the
morning, or later in the afternoon after returning from work or school,
can contain fairly high levels of lead.
STEPS TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO LEAD IN
DRINKING WATER
1. FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM. Let the water run from the tap before
using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet has gone
unused for more than six hours. The longer water resides in plumbing
the more lead it may contain. Flushing the tap means running the cold
water faucet for about 15-30 seconds. Although toilet flushing or
showering flushes water through a portion of the plumbing system,
you still need to flush the water in each faucet before using it for
drinking or cooking. Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive
measure you can take to protect your health. It usually uses less than
one or two gallons of water.
2. USE ONLY COLD WATER FOR COOKING AND
DRINKING. Do not cook with, or drink water from the hot
water tap. Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold
water. If you need hot water, draw water from the cold tap and then
heat it.
3. USE BOTTLED WATER. The steps
described above will reduce the lead
concentrations in your drinking water.
However, if you are still concerned, you
may wish to use bottled water for drinking
and cooking;.
-------
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can consult a variety of sources for additional information. Your
family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and
provide you with information about the health effects of lead.
State and local government agencies that can be contacted include:
[insert the name or title of facility official
if appropriate] at [insert phone number]
can provide you with information about your
facility's water supply; and
[insert the name or title of the State
Department of Public Health] at [insert
phone number] or the [insert the name of
the city or county health department] at
[insert phone number] can provide you
with information about the health effects of lead.
LEAD
-------
Appendix E
Public Education Posters
This Appendix provides two versions of the poster for NTNCWSs. The first is for systems with lead service lines. The
second poster, for systems that do not have lead service lines, contains no language pertaining to lead service lines.
These posters are available electronically from EPA's website at www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/implement.html.
Where system-specific information should be added, letters are provided that correspond to the letter-key in Table E-l,
below. The system-specific information that should be provided is described in this table.
Table E-l: Key to Letter Inserts for Public Education Posters
Replace the letter. . .
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(9
(g)
(h)
(0
With . . .
The
The
name of your water system
date when corrosion control will be completed for your system
Your water system's phone number
The
The
The
The
The
The
name or title of your facility official if appropriate
phone number of your facility official
name of the State Department of Public Health
phone number of the State Department of Public Health
name of the city or county health department
phone number of the city or county health department
Public Education Guidance
E-1
June 2002
-------
LEAD in Drinking Water
HEALTH EFFECTS
OF LEAD
Lead is found throughout
th e en v i ro n men t i n I ead -
based paint, ait, soil,
household dust, food, certain
rypes of pottery porcelain and
pewter,and water. Lead can pose
a significant risk to your health
it too much of it enters your
bcdy.
Lead builds up in the bcdy
over many years and can cause
damage to the brain, red Wood
cells and kidneys. The greatest
risk is to young children and
pregnant women. Amounts of
lead that won't hurt adults can
slow down normal mental and
physical development ol grow-
ing bodies. In addition, a child
at play often comes into con-
tact with sources ot lead con-
tamination- like dirt and dust -
that rarely affect an adult. It is
important t,:, wash
children's hands
an d tosTi o ften,
and to try to , ' .
make su re thev
I - 'T " '
onlv put food
ill their mouths. *
LEAD IN
DRINKING WATER
Lad in drinking water,
although rarely the
sole catise of lead poi-
so n i ng, ca n s igni fi can tly i ncrease
a persons total lead exposure,
particularly the exposure of in-
fants who drml; baby formulas
aid concentrated iuices that are
mixed with water. EF"JA estimates
that d ri n k i ng water ca n make u p
20 percent or more of a person s
total exposure to lead.
1111 i MI i D si \i i s i \\ mn\\ii \i \i PROTECTION;
V,I\i \ ill'\i and,,,-'
are concerned about lead in \xnir drinking water. Some drinking water
samples taken from this Licilitv have lead levels above the L'PA action
level ol I '> parts per billion (ppb), or 0.0 I ^ milligrams ot lead (v_-r liter
c,| water (iii^/L). L nder federal law we arc required to have a program
in place to minimize lead in van r drinking water bv (l>>
fhls program includes:
I) Corrosion control treatment (treating the water to make It less
likely lh.it lead will dissolve into the water):
2) Source water treatment (removingany lead that is in the water at
ihc time It leaves our treat me nt lacllltvj; and
,\i A public education program.
We are also required to replace the portion ol each lead service
line that we own if the line contributes lead concentrations ol more
than ll ppb alter we have completed the comprehensive treatment
program. It you have any questions about how wearecaiTvlngoul the
requirements ol the lead regulation please call us at iV,1
1 his poster also explains the simple steps you can take to protect
yourself by reducing voiir exposure lo lead in drinking water.
HOW LEAD ENTERS
OUR WATER
Lad is unusual among drinking
water con tain ina ins in that it
seldom occurs naturally in
water supplies like rivets and Likes.
Lead enters drinking water primarily
as a result ot the corros'ion, nr wearing
away, ot materials containing lead in
the water distribution system and
household plumbing. These materials
include lead-based solder used to join
copper pipe, brass and chrome-plated
brass faucets, and in so me cases,pi pes
made of lead that connect houses and
buildings to water mains (service
lines). In 1986, Congress banned the
use of lead solder containiiig greater
than 0.2% lead, and restricted the
lead ojiitent of faucets, pipes and
other plumbing materials to 8.0%.
When water stands in lead pipe's
o r p In mhi n g system s DJ n ta i m ng I ead
for several hours or more, the lead
may dissolve into your drinking wa-
ter. This mains the first water drawn
FOR MORE INFORMATION
YOLJ CAN CONSULT a variety ot sources for additional information:
Your family doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and
provide you with information about the health effects ot lead. State and local
govern men t agencies that can be contacted include:
iV/,1 at (?> can
provide you with information about your facility's water supply; and
i'fj at ig} or the
ilj.l at (j> can
provide you with information a knit the health eftects ot lead.
trom the tap in the morning, or
later in the afternoon if the water
has not been used all day, can con-
tain fairly high levels ot lead.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE
to Reduce Exposure to
Lead in Drinking Water
1. FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM. Let
the water run from the tap before
using it for drinking or cooking
any time the water in a faucet has
gone unused for more than six
hours. The longer water resides
in plurnhmg the more lead it may
contain. Flushing the tap means
running the cold water I anew for
about 15-30 seconds. .41111011)411
toilet flushing or showering
flushes water through a portion of
the plumbing system, you still
need to flush the water in each
faucet before u si ng'it for drill king
o r coo k i ng. Fl u sh i ng ta p water is
a s i in pi e a nd i ncxpeiis ive m easu re
you can take to protect your
health, ft usually uses less than
one to two gallons of water.
2. USE ONLY COLD WATER
FOR COOKING AND
DRINKING. Do not o::.ok with,
o r d n iik wate r from th e hot wate r
tap. Hot water an dissolve more
lead more quickly than cold wa-
ter. If you need liot water, draw
water from the a)Id tap and then
heat it.
5. USE BOTTLED WATER.
The steps described ah >ve w'JI re-
duce the lead
co n cent rat ions
in your drink-
ing water.
However, it
you are still con-
cerned, you ma)'
wish to use bottled
v/ater for drinking and cooking.
Public Education Guidance
E-2
June 2002
-------
LEAD in Drinking Water
HEALTH EFFECTS
OFLEAD
Lad is bund throughout
the environment in lead-
based paint, air, soil,
household dust, food, certain
type's of potter/ porcelain and
pcwtcr,and water. Lead an pose
a signihcant risk to your health
it too much ot it enters your
body.
Lead builds up in the body
over many years and can cause
damage to the brain, red blood
cells and kidneys. The greatest
risk is to young children and
pregnant women. Amounts ol
lead that won't hurt adults can
slow down normal mental and
physical development ol grow-
ing bodies. In addition, a child
at play often comes into con-
tact with sources ol lead con-
tamination - like dirt and dust -
that ratcK affect an adult It is
impi'tiam tn wash ,.
childtenV hands
and [M^sullen
and in in in - *
i " i - *
makcsun. thcT
iillh put tin id
in their nii itiths ' "
LEAD IN
DRINKING WATER
Lad in drinking water,
although rarely t he-
sole cause ot lead poi-
soning, can significantly increase
a person's total lead exposure,
particularly the exposure ot in-
fants who drink baby formulas
and concentrated juices that are
mixed with water. EPA estimates
that d ri n ki ng water can make ti p
20 percen t or more ot a person's
total exposure to lead.
III! I \1 1 1 P s | \| | S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
aiccoiicemcvl about lead in i'our drinking V.MUT. Snnie drinking water
Dimple* la ken from this lacllln' have lead levels above ihe tl'A action
level ol 1 c> parts per bi Ilion (ppb j, or 0.0 I "; milligram;, ol lead per li tcr
ol water i'mo/L i. Under H-deral |jw we are requ ired 10 have a program
In place to minimize lead In von r drinking water by II'!
I his program include!;:
I) Corrosion control treatment (treating the V..IUT to make it less
likely that lead will dissolve into the water);
2.1 Source water treatment (removing any lead that is in the water at
the time it leaves our treatment ijciliiyj; and
j) A public education program.
ll v-oti have anv questions about how we are carrvinyotit the re-
quiremems ol the lead regulation please call u> at iV,1
I his poster also explains the simple steps you can take to protect
voursell bv reducing vour exposure to lead in drinking water.
HOW LEAD ENTERS
OUR WATER
Lad is unusual among drinking
water contaminants in that it
seldom occurs naturally in
water supplies like rivers and lakes.
Lead enters drinking water primarily
AS a resu 11 o 11 he co rros ion, or wca ri ng
away, of materials containing lead in
the water distribution system and
household plumbing. These materials
include lead-based solder used to loin
copper pipe, brass and chrome-plated
brass lancets, and in some coses,pipes
made of lead t hat connect houses and
buildings to water mains (service
lines). In I1)86, Congress banned the
use ot lead solder containing greater
than 0.2% lead, and restricted the
lead content ot faucets, pipes and
other plumbing materials to 8.(Bn.
When water stands in lend pipes
orpin m hi nt; syste ms co n ta i n i ng lead
for several hours or more, the lead
may dissolve into your drinking wa-
ter. This means the first water drawn
FOR MORE INFORMATION
YOU CAN CONSULT a variety ol sources for additional information:
\otir family doctor or pediatrician cm perform a blood test lor lead and
provide you with information about the health effects of lead. State and I oca I
government agencies that can he contacted include:
f/il M if! can
provide you with in format ion about your tacilitys water supply; and
(f I at (s;,1 or the
ill! at (i! can
pro vide you with information about the health effects of lead.
from the tap in the morning, or
later in the afternoon if the v/arer
has not been used all day. Gin con-
tain tairlv Iwh lewis of lead.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE
to Reduce Exposure to
Lead in Drinking Water
I. FLUSH YOUR SYSTEM. Let
the water run trom the tap before
using it for drinking or cooking
any time the water in a taucet has
gone unused for more than six
ho ti rs. T he I o nge r wate r resi des
in plumbing the more lead it may
contain. Flushing the tap means
running the cold water faucet lor
about 15-30 seconds. Although
toilet flushing or showering
flushes water through a portion ot
the plumbing system, you still
need to flush the water m each
faucet before using it for drill king
or cooking. Flushing tap water is
a s i m p le a nd i noxpens ive m eosu re
you can take to protect your
health. It usually uses less than
one to two gallons of water.
2. USE ONLY COLD WATER
FOR COOKING AND
DRINKING. Do not cook with,
o r d ri nk ware r from th e hot v/ate r
tap. Hot water can dissolve more-
lead more quickly than cold wa-
ter. If you need not water, draw
v/ate r from the cold tap a licit hen
heat it.
1 USE BOTTLED WATER.
The steps described above will re-
duce the lead
concentrations
in your drink- / i
ing water.
However, it
you arc. still con-
cerned, you may
wish to use bottled
water tor drinking and cook ins;.
Public Education Guidance
E-3
June 2002
-------
Appendix F
Lead in Drinking Water
Public Service Announcement
Section 141.85(b) of the rule specifies that a water system must include the following language in all public service
announcements submitted to television and radio stations for broadcasting as part of a public education program on
lead in drinking water. The LCRMR have not modified the content of this broadcast language, but no longer requires
systems serving 3,300 or fewer people to deliver these announcements, if this provision has been included in the State's
regulation.
Why should everyone want to know the facts about lead and drinking water? Because unhealthy
amounts of lead can enter drinking water though the plumbing in your home. That's why I urge you
to do what I did. I had my water tested for (insertfree or $ per sample). You can contact the (insert the
name of the city or water system) for information on testing and on simple ways to reduce your exposure to
lead in drinking water.
To have your water tested for lead, or to get more information about this public health concern,
please call (insert the phone number of the city or water system).
Public Education Guidance F-1 June 2002
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Appendix G
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions
that Relate to Public Education Requirements
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
§141.8J: The following section spells out the general public education requirements for water systems. This section was NOT amended by the
LCRMR. // is included here for your convenience.
A water system that exceeds the lead action level based on tap water samples collected in accordance with §141.86 shall deliver
the public education materials contained in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section in accordance with the requirements in
paragraph (c) of this section.
§141.8J(a)(l): The following section contains the mandatory language for written public education materials for community water systems.
(a) Content of mitten public education materials. (1) Community water systems. A community water system shall include the following
text in all of the printed materials it distributes through its lead public education program. Systems may delete information
pertaining to lead service lines, upon approval by the State, if no lead service lines exist anywhere in the water system service
area. Public education language at paragraphs (a) (1) (iv) (B) (3) and (a) (1) (iv) (D) (2) of this section may be modified regarding
building permit record availability and consumer access to these records, if approved by the State. Systems may also continue
to utilize pre-printed materials that meet the public education language requirements in 40 CFR 141.85, effective November 6,
1991 and contained in 40 CFR, Parts 100 - 149 additionally revised as of July 1, 1991. Any additional information presented by
a system shall be consistent with the information below and be in plain English that can be understood by lay people.
(i) Introduction. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and [insert name of water supplier] are
concerned about lead in your drinking water. Although most homes have very low levels of lead in their drinking water, some
homes in the community have lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or 0.015 milligrams of lead
per liter of water (mg/L). Under Federal law we are required to have a program in place to minimize lead in your drinking
water by [insert date when corrosion control will be completed for your system]. This program includes corrosion control
treatment, source water treatment, and public education. We are also required to replace the portion of each lead service line
that we own if the line contributes lead concentrations of more than 15 ppb after we have completed the comprehensive
treatment program. If you have any questions about how we are carrying out the requirements of the lead regulation please
give us a call at [insert water system's phone number]. This brochure explains the simple steps you can take to protect you and
your family by reducing your exposure to lead in drinking water.
(ii) Health effects of lead. Lead is a common metal found throughout the environment in lead-based paint, air, soil,
household dust, food, certain types of pottery porcelain and pewter, and water. Lead can pose a significant risk to your health if
too much of it enters your body. Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood
cells and kidneys. The greatest risk is to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that won't hurt adults can slow
down normal mental and physical development of growing bodies. In addition, a child at play often comes into contact with
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Appendix G: LCRMR Relating to Public Education
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
sources of lead contamination-like dirt and dustthat rarely affect an adult. It is important to wash children's hands and toys
often, and to try to make sure they only put food in their mouths.
(iii) 'Lead in drinking water. (A) Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly
increase a person's total lead exposure, particularly the exposure of infants who drink baby formulas and concentrated juices
that are mixed with water. The EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person's total exposure
to lead.
(B) Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers
and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the
water distribution system and household plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass
and chrome plated brass faucets, and in some cases, pipes made of lead that connect your house to the water main (service
lines). In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead content of
faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials to 8.0%.
(C) When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may
dissolve into your drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in the afternoon after
returning from work or school, can contain fairly high levels of lead.
(iv) Steps you can take in the home to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. (A) Despite our best efforts mentioned earlier to
control water corrosivity and remove lead from the water supply, lead levels in some homes or buildings can be high. To find
out whether you need to take action in your own home, have your drinking water tested to determine if it contains excessive
concentrations of lead. Testing the water is essential because you cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking water. Some local
laboratories that can provide this service are listed at the end of this booklet. For more information on having your water
tested, please call [insert phone number of water system].
(B) If a water test indicates that the drinking water drawn from a tap in your home contains lead above 15 ppb, then
you should take the foil owing precautions:
(/) Let the water run from the tap before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet has gone
unused for more than six hours. The longer water resides in your home's plumbing the more lead it may contain. Hushing the
tap means running the cold water faucet until the water gets noticeably colder, usually about 15-30 seconds. If your house has a
lead service line to the water main, you may have to flush the water for a longer time, perhaps one minute, before drinking.
Although toilet flushing or showering flushes water through a portion of your home's plumbing system, you still need to flush
the water in each faucet before using it for drinking or cooking. Hushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive measure you
can take to protect your family's health. It usually uses less than one or two gallons of water and costs less than [insert a cost
estimate based on flushing two times a day for 30 days] per month. To conserve water, fill a couple of bottles for drinking
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Appendix G: LCRMR Relating to Public Education
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
water after flushing the tap, and whenever possible use the first flush water to wash the dishes or water the plants. If you live in
a high-rise building, letting the water flow before using it may not work to lessen your risk from lead. The plumbing systems
have more, and sometimes larger pipes than smaller buildings. Ask your landlord for help in locating the source of the lead and
for advice on reducing the lead level.
(2) Try not to cook with, or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than
cold water. If you need hot water, draw water from the cold tap and heat it on the stove.
(j>) Remove loose lead solder and debris from the plumbing materials installed in newly constructed homes, or homes
in which the plumbing has recently been replaced, by removing the faucet strainers from all taps and running the water from 3
to 5 minutes. Thereafter, periodically remove the strainers and flush out any debris that has accumulated over time.
(4) If your copper pipes are joined with lead solder that has been installed illegally since it was banned in 1986, notify
the plumber who did the work and request that he or she replace the lead solder with lead-free solder. Lead solder looks dull
gray, and when scratched with a key looks shiny. In addition, notify your State [insert name of department responsible for
enforcing the Safe Drinking Water Act in your State] about the violation.
(3) Determine whether or not the service line that connects your home or apartment to the water main is made of lead.
The best way to determine if your service line is made of lead is by either hiring a licensed plumber to inspect the line or by
contacting the plumbing contractor who installed the line. You can identify the plumbing contractor by checking the city's
record of building permits which should be maintained in the files of the [insert name of department that issues building
permits]. A licensed plumber can at the same time check to see if your home's plumbing contains lead solder, lead pipes, or
pipe fittings that contain lead. The public water system that delivers water to your home should also maintain records of the
materials located in the distribution system. If the service line that connects your dwelling to the water main contributes more
than 15 ppb to drinking water, after our comprehensive treatment program is in place, we are required to replace the portion of
the line we own. If the line is only partially owned by the [insert the name of the city, county, or water system that owns the
line], we are required to provide the owner of the privately-owned portion of the line with information on how to replace the
privately-owned portion of the service line, and offer to replace that portion of the line at the owner's expense. If we replace
only the portion of the line that we own, we also are required to notify you in advance and provide you with information on the
steps you can take to minimize exposure to any temporary increase in lead levels that may result from the partial replacement, to
take a follow-up sample at our expense from the line within 72 hours after the partial replacement, and to mail or otherwise
provide you with the results of that sample within three business days of receiving the results. Acceptable replacement
alternatives include copper, steel, iron, and plastic pipes.
(6) Have an electrician check your wiring. If grounding wires from the electrical system are attached to your pipes,
corrosion may be greater. Check with a licensed electrician or your local electrical code to determine if your wiring can be
grounded elsewhere. DO NOT attempt to change the wiring yourself because improper grounding can cause electrical shock
and fire hazards.
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Appendix G: LCRMR Relating to Public Education
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
(C) The steps described above will reduce the lead concentrations in your drinking water. However, if a water test
indicates that the drinking water coming from your tap contains lead concentrations in excess of 15 ppb after flushing, or after
we have completed our actions to minimize lead levels, then you may want to take the following additional measures:
(/) Purchase or lease a home treatment device. Home treatment devices are limited in that each unit treats only the
water that flows from the faucet to which it is connected, and all of the devices require periodic maintenance and replacement.
Devices such as reverse osmosis systems or distillers can effectively remove lead from your drinking water. Some activated
carbon filters may reduce lead levels at the tap, however all lead reduction claims should be investigated. Be sure to check the
actual performance of a specific home treatment device before and after installing the unit.
(2) Purchase bottled water for drinking and cooking.
(D) You can consult a variety of sources for additional information. Your family doctor or pediatrician can perform a
blood test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects of lead. State and local government agencies that
can be contacted include:
(/) [insert the name of city or county department of public utilities] at [insert phone number] can provide you with
information about your community's water supply, and a list of local laboratories that have been certified by EPA for testing
water quality;
(2) [insert the name of city or county department that issues building permits] at [insert phone number] can provide
you with information about building permit records that should contain the names of plumbing contractors that plumbed your
home; and
(j>) [insert the name of the State Department of Public Health] at [insert phone number] or the [insert the name of the
city or county health department] at [insert phone number] can provide you with information about the health effects of lead
and how you can have your child's blood tested.
(E) The following is a list of some State approved laboratories in your area that you can call to have your water tested
for lead. [Insert names and phone numbers of at least two laboratories].
§141.83 (a) (2): The following section contains the mandatory language for mitten public education materials for non-transient, non-community
water systems.
(2) Non-transient non-community water systems. A non-transient non-community water system shall either include the text specified
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Appendix G: LCRMR Relating to Public Education
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
in paragraph (a)(l) of this section or shall include the following text in all of the printed materials it distributes through its lead
public education program. Water systems may delete information pertaining to lead service lines upon approval by the State if
no lead service lines exist anywhere in the water system service area. Any additional information presented by a system shall be
consistent with the information below and be in plain English that can be understood by lay people.
(i) Introduction. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and [insert name of water supplier] are
concerned about lead in your drinking water. Some drinking water samples taken from this facility have lead levels above the
EPA action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb), or 0.015 milligrams of lead per liter of water (mg/L). Under Federal law we are
required to have a program in place to minimize lead in your drinking water by [insert date when corrosion control will be
completed for your system]. This program includes corrosion control treatment, source water treatment, and public education.
We are also required to replace the portion of each lead service line that we own if the line contributes lead concentrations of
more than 15 ppb after we have completed the comprehensive treatment program. If you have any questions about how we are
carrying out the requirements of the lead regulation please give us a call at [insert water system's phone number]. This brochure
explains the simple steps you can take to protect yourself by reducing your exposure to lead in drinking water.
(ii) Health effects of lead. Lead is found throughout the environment in lead-based paint, air, soil, household dust, food,
certain types of pottery porcelain and pewter, and water. Lead can pose a significant risk to your health if too much of it enters
your body. Lead builds up in the body over many years and can cause damage to the brain, red blood cells and kidneys. The
greatest risk is to young children and pregnant women. Amounts of lead that won't hurt adults can slow down normal mental
and physical development of growing bodies. In addition, a child at play often comes into contact with sources of lead
contamination - like dirt and dust - that rarely affect an adult. It is important to wash children's hands and toys often, and to try
to make sure they only put food in their mouths.
(iii) i^eadin drinking water. (A) Lead in drinking water, although rarely the sole cause of lead poisoning, can significantly
increase a person's total lead exposure, particularly the exposure of infants who drink baby formulas and concentrated juices
that are mixed with water. The EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person's total exposure
to lead.
(B) Lead is unusual among drinking water contaminants in that it seldom occurs naturally in water supplies like rivers
and lakes. Lead enters drinking water primarily as a result of the corrosion, or wearing away, of materials containing lead in the
water distribution system and household plumbing. These materials include lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, brass
and chrome-plated brass faucets, and in some cases, pipes made of lead that connect houses and buildings to water mains
(service lines). In 1986, Congress banned the use of lead solder containing greater than 0.2% lead, and restricted the lead
content of faucets, pipes and other plumbing materials to 8.0%.
(C) When water stands in lead pipes or plumbing systems containing lead for several hours or more, the lead may
dissolve into your drinking water. This means the first water drawn from the tap in the morning, or later in the afternoon if the
water has not been used all day, can contain fairly high levels of lead.
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Appendix G: LCRMR Relating to Public Education
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
(iv) Steps you can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. (A) Let the water run from the tap before using it for
drinking or cooking any time the water in a faucet has gone unused for more than six hours. The longer water resides in
plumbing the more lead it may contain. Flushing the tap means running the cold water faucet for about 15-30 seconds.
Although toilet flushing or showering flushes water through a portion of the plumbing system, you still need to flush the water
in each faucet before using it for drinking or cooking. Flushing tap water is a simple and inexpensive measure you can take to
protect your health. It usually uses less than one gallon of water.
(B) Do not cook with, or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water can dissolve more lead more quickly than cold
water. If you need hot water, draw water from the cold tap and then heat it.
(C) The steps described above will reduce the lead concentrations in your drinking water. However, if you are still
concerned, you may wish to use bottled water for drinking and cooking.
(D) You can consult a variety of sources for additional information. Your family doctor or pediatrician can perform a
blood test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects of lead. State and local government agencies that
can be contacted include:
(/) [insert the name or title of facility official if appropriate] at [insert phone number] can provide you with information
about your facility's water supply; and
(2) [insert the name or title of the State Department of Public Health] at [insert phone number] or the [insert the name
of the city or county health department] at [insert phone number] can provide you with information about the health effects of
lead.
§141.8J(b): The following section specifies the required content of broadcast materials. This section was NOT amended by the _LCRMR. // is
included here for your convenience.
(b) Content of broadcast materials. A water system shall include the following information in all public service announcements
submitted under its lead public education program to television and radio stations for broadcasting:
(1) Why should everyone want to know the facts about lead and drinking water? Because unhealthy amounts of lead
can enter drinking water through the plumbing in your home. That's why I urge you to do what I did. I had my water tested
for [insert free or $ per sample]. You can contact the [insert the name of the city or water system] for information on testing
and on simple ways to reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water.
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Appendix G: LCRMR Relating to Public Education
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
(2) To have your water tested for lead, or to get more information about this public health concern, please call [insert
the phone number of the city or water system].
§141.85 (c): The following section requires public education to be communicated in languages other than English, where appropriate. This section
was NOT amended by the LCRMR. It is included here for your convenience.
(c) Delivery of a public education program. (1) In communities where a significant proportion of the population speaks a language
other than English, public education materials shall be communicated in the appropriate language (s).
§§141.85 (c) (2) & (3): The following sections specify the delivery requirements for community water systems.
(2) A community water system that exceeds the lead action level on the basis of tap water samples collected in accordance with
§141.86, and that is not already repeating public education tasks pursuant to paragraph (c)(3), (c)(7), or (c)(8), of this section,
shall, within 60 days:
(i) Insert notices in each customer's water utility bill containing the information in paragraph (a) (1) of this section, along
with the following alert on the water bill itself in large print: "SOME HOMES IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE ELEVATED
LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR DRINKING WATER. LEAD CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO YOUR HEALTH.
PLEASE READ THE ENCLOSED NOTICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION." A community water system having a
billing cycle that does not include a billing within 60 days of exceeding the action level, or that cannot insert information in the
water utility bill without making major changes to its billing system, may use a separate mailing to deliver the information in
paragraph (a) (1) of this section as long as the information is delivered to each customer within 60 days of exceeding the action
level. Such water systems shall also include the "alert" language specified in this paragraph.
(ii) Submit the information in paragraph (a) (1) of this section to the editorial departments of the major daily and weekly
newspapers circulated throughout the community.
(iii) Deliver pamphlets and/or brochures that contain the public education materials in paragraphs (a) (1) (ii) and
(a) (1) (iv) of this section to facilities and organizations, including the following:
(A) Public schools and/or local school boards;
(B) City or county health department;
(C) Women, Infants, and Children and/or Head Start Program(s) whenever available;
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Appendix G: LCRMR Relating to Public Education
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
(D) Public and private hospitals and/or clinics;
(E) Pediatricians;
(F) Family planning clinics; and
(G) Local welfare agencies.
(iv) Submit the public service announcement in paragraph (b) of this section to at least five of the radio and television
stations with the largest audiences that broadcast to the community served by the water system.
(3) A community water system shall repeat the tasks contained in paragraphs (c)(2) (i), (ii) and (iii) of this section every
12 months, and the tasks contained in paragraphs (c)(2)(iv) of this section every 6 months for as long as the system exceeds the
lead action level.
§§141.8J(c)(4) & (JJ: Thefollomng sections specify the delivery requirements for non-transient, non-community water systems.
(4) Within 60 days after it exceeds the lead action level (unless it already is repeating public education tasks pursuant to
paragraph (c) (5) of this section), a non-transient non-community water system shall deliver the public education materials
specified by paragraph (a)(l) of this section or the public education materials specified by paragraph (a) (2) of this section as
follows:
(i) Post informational posters on lead in drinking water in a public place or common area in each of the buildings
served by the system; and
(ii) Distribute informational pamphlets and/or brochures on lead in drinking water to each person served by the non-
transient non-community water system. The State may allow the system to utilize electronic transmission in lieu of or
combined with printed materials as long as it achieves at least the same coverage.
(5) A non-transient non-community water system shall repeat the tasks contained in paragraph (c) (4) of this section at
least once during each calendar year in which the system exceeds the lead action level.
§141.83(c)(6): The following section explains the conditions under which a system is no longer required to deliver public education and when it must
recommence delivery. This section was NOT amended by the LCRMR. It is included here for jour convenience.
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Appendix G: LCRMR Relating to Public Education
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
(6) A water system may discontinue delivery of public education materials if the system has met the lead action level during the
most recent six-month monitoring period conducted pursuant to §141.86. Such a system shall recommence public education in
accordance with this section if it subsequently exceeds the lead action level during any monitoring period.
§141.8J(c)(7): The following section identifies which community water systems can request permission to use the content and delivery requirements
specified for a non-transient, non-community water system.
(7) A community water system may apply to the State, in writing, (unless the State has waived the requirement for prior State
approval) to use the text specified in paragraph (a) (2) of this section in lieu of the text in paragraph (a) (1) of this section and to
perform the tasks listed in paragraphs (c) (4) and (c) (5) of this section in lieu of the tasks in paragraphs (c) (2) and (c) (3) of this
section if:
(i) The system is a facility, such as a prison or a hospital, where the population served is not capable of or is prevented
from making improvements to plumbing or installing point of use treatment devices; and
(ii) The system provides water as part of the cost of services provided and does not separately charge for water
consumption.
§141.8J(c)(8)(i): The following section explains public education tasks that may be omitted by small community water systems.
(8)(i) A community water system serving 3,300 or fewer people may omit the task contained in paragraph (c)(2)(iv) of this
section. As long as it distributes notices containing the information contained in paragraph (a) (1) of this section to every
household served by the system, such systems may further limit their public education programs as follows:
(A) Systems serving 500 or fewer people may forego the task contained in paragraph (c) (2) (ii) of this section. Such a
system may limit the distribution of the public education materials required under paragraph (c)(2)(iii) of this section to facilities
and organizations served by the system that are most likely to be visited regularly by pregnant women and children, unless it is
notified by the State in writing that it must make a broader distribution.
(B) If approved by the State in writing, a system serving 501 to 3,300 people may omit the task in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of
this section and/or limit the distribution of the public education materials required under paragraph (c) (2) (iii) of this section to
facilities and organizations served by the system that are most likely to be visited regularly by pregnant women and children.
(ii) A community water system serving 3,300 or fewer people that delivers public education in accordance with
paragraph (c) (8) (i) of this section shall repeat the required public education tasks at least once during each calendar year in
which the system exceeds the lead action level.
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Appendix G: LCRMR Relating to Public Education
Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions that Relate to
Public Education Requirements
§141.83 (d): The following section explains the system's sampling responsibilities to its customers should the system exceed the lead action level. This
section was NOT amended by the LCRMR. It is included here for your convenience.
(d) Supplemental monitoring and notification of results. A water system that fails to meet the lead action level on the basis of tap
samples collected in accordance with §141.86 shall offer to sample the tap water of any customer who requests it. The system is
not required to pay for collecting or analyzing the sample, nor is the system required to collect and analyze the sample itself.
§141.9Q(f): The following section explains a water system's reporting requirements to the State.
(f) Public education program reporting requirements. (1) Any water system that is subject to the public education requirements in
§141.85 shall, within ten days after the end of each period in which the system is required to perform public education tasks in
accordance with §141.85(c), send written documentation to the State that contains:
(i) A demonstration that the system has delivered the public education materials that meet the content requirements in
§141.85(a) and (b) and the delivery requirements in §141.85(c); and
(ii) A list of all the newspapers, radio stations, television stations, and facilities and organizations to which the system
delivered public education materials during the period in which the system was required to perform public education tasks.
(2) Unless required by the State, a system that previously has submitted the information required by paragraph (f)(l)(ii)
of this section need not resubmit the information required by paragraph (f) (1) (ii) of this section, as long as there have been no
changes in the distribution list and the system certifies that the public education materials were distributed to the same list
submitted previously.
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Appendix H
Information Sources
"Lead and Your Drinking Water: Actions You Can Take to Reduce Lead in DrinkingWater." U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. June 1993, EPA 810-F-93-001. This document is
available in English and Spanish at www.epa.gov/safewater/Pubs/leadl.html.
"Lead in Drinking Water in School and Non-residential Buildings" U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Water, Washington, DC. April 1994, EPA 812-B-94-002. This document is available at
www.epa.gov/safewater/consumer/leadinschools.html.
"Water on Tap: A Consumer's Guide to the Nation's Drinking Water." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office
of Water, Washington, DC. May 1997. EPA 810-F-97-001. This document is available at
www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/wot.html.
Environmental Protection Agency, 40 CFR 141 and 142 - Drinking Water Regulations; Maximum Contaminant Level
Goals and National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper; Final Rule (56 FR No. 110, Jui
7, 1991). This Federal Register notice is available atwww.epa.gov/safewater/leadcop.html.
une
12, 2000). This Federal Register notice
"Lead in Your Home: A Parent's Reference Guide." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances, Washington, DC. June 1998, EPA 747-B-98-002. www.epa.gov/lead/leadrev.pdf
"Screening Young Children for Lead Poisoning: Guidance for State and Local Public Health Officials." Center for
Disease Control, Atlanta, GA. November 1997. This document is available at
www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/guide/guide97.htm.
"Drinking Water and Health: What You Need to Know." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water,
Washington, DC. May 1997. EPA 810-F-97-001. This document is available in English and Spanish at
www.epa.gov/safewater/dwhealth.html.
"Children and Drinking Water Standards." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
May 1997. EPA 810-F-97-001. This document is available in English and Spanish at
www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/health.html.
Public Education Guidance H-1 June 2002
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