v>EPA Implementing the Lead Public
ffiSnSi Education Provision of the
Protection Agency ^ _^
Lead and Copper Rule:
A Guide For Non-Transient Non-Community
Water Systems
(Original Document: Lead in Drinking Water Regulation:
Public Education Guidance for Community Water Systems, EPA 816-R-02-010, June 2002)
(Revised Document: Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR,
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems: EPA 816-D-07-002, November 2007)
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Table of Contents
Objective and Organization 1
Introduction 3
Section 1: PE Requirements/Developing Your PE Program Plan 5
Summary of Program Requirements 5
I. Required Content of Public Education Materials 7
II. Required Delivery Methods for Your Public Education Materials 8
III. Developing Your Public Education Program Plan 9
Public Education Flow Chart 9
Section 2: Designing an Effective Public Education Program 11
Step 1: Know Your PE Requirements 11
Step 2: Know Your Audience 12
Sources of Information about your audience 12
Step 3: Contact Your Community Partners 13
Partnering with the public health community 13
Partnering with the media 14
Step 4: Prepare Your Messages 14
Step 5: Identify Communication Channels to Get Your Message Out 15
Step 6: Determine Your Outreach Material Needs 16
Step 7: Update Your PE Program Plan 17
Section 3: Implementing Your Public Education Program 18
Produce Your PE Materials 20
Printed Materials 20
Material Templates 20
Deliver Your PE Materials 21
Contact Your Local Media 21
Communicate Directly with the Public 21
Conclude Your PE Activities at the End of the Exceedance 22
Conclusion 23
Appendix A: Frequently Asked Questions 25
Appendix B: Public Education Material Templates in English and Spanish 31
Checklist for Implementing Your PE Program 33
General Public Education Notice 37
ListServ/Email Announcement 39
Public Education Brochure 41
Public Education Poster 42
Consumer Notice of Tap Water Results 43
Appendix C: Contacts and Additional Resources 49
Appendix D: Lead and Copper Rule Public Education Requirements — Federal Regulatory Language 61
Appendix E: Lead and Copper Rule NTNCWS Public Education Fact Sheet 71
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Objective and Organization
This guidance document explains the revised requirements for a lead Public Education (PE) program,
describes a practical approach for successfully carrying out a PE program on lead in drinking water, and
continues to serve as a tool to assist water suppliers with conducting a community-based PE program
on lead in drinking water. The approach described here is based on our NPDWRs for lead and copper,
practical experience gained from implementing the PE requirements of the LCR, and principles of good risk
communication.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), first issued this guidance document in July 1992. Since that
time, EPA published minor revisions to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) for
lead and copper on January 12, 2000 (65 FR 1950). On October 10, 2007, EPA published an additional
set of short-term revisions and clarifications (72 FR 57782). These most recent changes to the Lead and
Copper Rule (LCR) incorporate comments received from members of the National Drinking Water Advisory
Committee (NDWAC) Work Group on Public Education (WGPE), water systems, and States. These
groups have extensive experience implementing or overseeing public education (PE) programs. The new
rule requirements make changes to the content of the messages provided to consumers, how the materials
are delivered to consumers, and the timeframe in which materials must be delivered. The rule changes still
require water systems to deliver PE materials after a lead action level exceedance. A summary of the revised PE
requirements for non-transient non-community water systems (NTNCWS) is provided in Table 1 in Section
1.
Under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA set the action level for lead in drinking water at
15 ppb. This means utilities must ensure that water from the customer's tap does not exceed this level in at
least 90 percent of the homes sampled (i.e. 90th percentile level). If the 90th percentile level does exceed
this limit, then the utility must take certain steps to correct the problem. One action a utility must take
following a lead action level exceedance is to conduct public education (no public education is required if
only the copper AL is exceeded).
For utilities seeking to quickly identify the basic PE requirements after a lead action level exceedance, we
have developed a two page fact sheet summarizing requirements (Appendix E).
Many NTNCWS have already developed PE programs, but we believe that systems, both large and small,
will find this document useful in understanding the modifications to the PE requirements resulting from the
most recent LCR changes in helping them to develop more effective PE programs.
The guidance manual is divided into the following sections:
> Introduction provides a discussion of the health effects of lead, a brief history of the LCR regulations,
and discusses the importance of conducting a thorough PE program that is grounded in strong risk
communication principles.
> Section I: PE Program Requirements summarizes requirements that water suppliers must meet
to comply with the Federal regulations and how the latest LCR rule changes have impacted these
requirements.
> Section II: Designing an Effective PE Program suggests practical steps a water system can take to plan a
PE program prior to an exceedance.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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I" Section III: Implementing Your PE Program discusses how a water system can implement their PE
requirements in the event of an exceedance; details tips for preparing materials needed to effectively
communicate with the public; and provides practical tips on working with the media and communicating
directly with the public.
This document contains five appendices:
I" Appendix A: Frequently Asked Questions about Lead in Drinking Water
^ Appendix B: PE Materials Templates
I" Appendix C: Contacts/Additional Sources of Information
> Appendix D: Lead and Copper Rule Public Education Requirements—Federal Regulatory Language
I" Appendix E: Lead and Copper Rule NTNCWS Public Education Fact Sheet
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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Introduction
Reducing lead in the environment is an important public health issue. Lead, a metal found in natural
deposits, is harmful to human health. The most common exposure to lead is swallowing or breathing in
lead paint chips and dust. However, lead in drinking water can also be a source of lead exposure. Lead is
used in some water service lines and household plumbing materials. Lead in water occurs through corrosion
of plumbing products containing lead. Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your
body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere
with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead
exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the
brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by
low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones and it can be released later in life.
During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones, which may affect brain development.
EPA has taken a number of actions to limit our total exposure to lead, such as phasing out the use of lead in
gasoline and banning lead based paint. 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.
On June 7, 1991, EPA promulgated provisions to the maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs) and
NPDWRs for controlling lead and copper in drinking water (56 FR 26460). We modified this rule with four
technical amendments that were published in the Federal Register on July 15, 1991 (56 FR 32113), June
29, 1992 (57 FR 28786), June 30, 1994 (59 FR 33860), and minor revisions to reduce the reporting burden
were published on July 12, 2000 (65 FR 1950). Beginning in 2004, EPA conducted a national review of
implementation of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) to determine if there was a national problem related to
elevated lead levels in drinking water. Our review placed a focus on determining if the existing rule was being
effectively implemented by states and local communities and on identifying where additional guidance or
changes to the regulation were needed to improve implementation. During 2004, Congress held a number
of oversight hearings to further investigate implementation of the LCR in the District of Columbia and the
nation.
On October 10, 2007, EPA published the latest changes to the LCR These revisions are intended to better
ensure that at-risk populations receive information quickly and are able to act to reduce their exposure. It is
EPA's belief that these changes will also help water systems to better comply with the PE requirements.
The LCR requires 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, it requires water suppliers to educate their customers about
specific measures that can be used to reduce lead levels in home drinking water caused by lead in household
plumbing materials — the primary source of lead in drinking water.
The LCR specifies that a water system must conduct a PE program on lead in drinking water if, during a
monitoring period, more than 10 percent of the tap water samples collected in accordance with 40 CFR
§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 PE materials are contained in §141.85 of the regulation. Section 1 of this guidance
document details these requirements.
This guidance document presents practical steps and helpful tips for NTNCWS to understand their PE
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
requirements under the LCR and to design and implement a community-based education program on
lead and drinking water that reaches all segments of the population. This guidance document provides
comprehensive information and includes required and suggested activities for conducting a successful
PE effort. Water systems should pay particular attention to Section 1 for the specific PE requirements in
the event of an exceedance. The key to reducing the health risks associated with lead in drinking water is
communicating these risks with those who most need to hear this information and in the manner in which
they are used to receiving information. A good PE program equals good risk communication.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Section 1
PE Requirements/Developing Your PE Program Plan
Conducting an effective Public Education (PE) program is essential if your system experiences a lead action
level exceedance. The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requires specific actions in the event of an exceedance
to inform the affected community about the risks of elevated lead levels (particularly to children and
expectant or nursing mothers), to provide information on what the water system is doing to address lead
in drinking water, and to advise the community on actions individuals can take to reduce their chance of
exposure to elevated levels of lead in drinking water.
This section details the specific PE requirements under the LCR and presents basic steps in developing a
PE Program Plan. Sections 2 and 3 go into a greater level of detail on each step in the Program Plan and
strategies for implementing each step. Water systems should pay particular attention to the requirements
outlined in Section 1 in order to meet your obligations under the LCR (Appendix D of this document
provides a copy of the Federal regulatory language described in this document.)
Summary of Program Requirements
This document provides guidance to you, the public water suppliers regarding the PE requirements of
the LCR, as amended in 2007. Section 141.85 of the Lead and Copper Rule regulations contain specific
requirements regarding the content and delivery of your PE program. The tables below highlight the changes
to the PE requirements contained in §141.85 and other public information requirements. Refer to pages 5-8
of this Section for complete program requirements.
Note: Water systems must submit all written PE materials to the State prior to delivery. The State may
require the system to obtain approval of the content of written PE materials prior to delivery.
Table 1. Changes in the Public Education Requirements Resulting from the Lead and Copper
Rule Short-Term Revisions and Clarifications
Revisions:
Applies to:
Content of Materials
Must alter language of previous public education according to the new text.
May use personalized language to discuss sources of lead and steps to
reduce lead in drinking water (previously pre-written text was required.
Systems are now able to develop own text within the guidelines that is
applicable to local situation).
Must include language explaining what happened and what is being done.
Must include language providing contacts for more information.
All water systems
All water systems
All water systems
All water systems
Delivery of Public Education Materials
End of the monitoring period is September 30 of the calendar year in which
sampling occurs, or, if the State has established an alternate monitoring
period, the last day of that period.
Must conduct outreach with public education materials within 60 days after
the end of the monitoring period in which the exceedance occurred.
Shall deliver PE materials by posting informational poster on lead in drinking
water in a public place or community area in each building served by the
system .
All water systems that are
required to conduct monitoring
annually or less frequently
All water systems
All water systems
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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Table 1A. Other Lead and Copper Rule Customer Notification Requirements
Revisions:
Applies to:
Notification of Results - Reporting Requirements1
Must provide a consumer notice of lead tap water monitoring results to all
persons served by sampling sites.2
Must provide consumer notice as soon as practical, but no later than 30
days after system learns of tap monitoring results.
Must include the following information: results of lead tap water
monitoring, an explanation of the health effects of lead, list steps
consumers can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, and
facility contact information. The notice must also provide the maximum
contaminant level (MCL) goal and the action level (AL) for lead and the
definitions for these two terms.3
Must be provided to all persons served at the site by mail or other methods.
This includes those who do not receive a water bill.
All water systems
All water systems
All water systems
All water systems
1See Appendix Cfor a template with language that meets the notification of results requirements.
2This must be done whether or not you have a lead action level exceedance.
3The MCLG is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs
allow for a margin of safety. The action level (AL) is the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers
treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
I. Required Content of Public Education Materials
Your PE notices are required to begin with the following statement:
Important Information about Lead in Your Drinking Water
[Insert name of water system] found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings. Lead can
cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information
closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
In addition to this statement, your PE notices are required to include, and in the order presented, the
topics in bold and the mandatory language noted in italics. Additional information under the topics
must be addressed in your PE materials, however, the specific content and wording is flexible. (Appendix B
contains a template for a PE notice with the required content as well as suggested EPA language. Additional
information for developing statements may be found at EPA's Lead Web site at www.epa.gov/lead).
* Health Effects of Lead
Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can
cause damage to the brain and kidneys, andean interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen
to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women.
Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with loweredIQ in children. Adults with kidney problems
and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones
and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones, which may
affect brain development.
> Sources of Lead
• What is lead?
• Where does the lead in drinking water come from? Include information on home/building plumbing
materials and service lines that may contain lead.
• What are other important sources of lead in addition to drinking water? (e.g., paint)
^ Steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead in your water
• You must include a recommendation on running water to flush out the lead.1
• You must explain concerns with using hot water and specifically caution against the use of hot water for
baby formula (because lead dissolves more easily in hot water).
• You must tell customers that boiling water does not reduce lead levels.
• You must discuss other options customers can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, such as
alternative sources or treatment of water.
• You must suggest that parents have their child's blood tested for lead.
1 Consider conducting a study to determine the appropriate system specific flushing time. Consult with the state before designing or beginning
a study. For example, a study may consist of collecting tap samples at different flushing time durations from a statistically significant number of
taps. In addition, use a sample size that is different than the sample size used for the 90th percent calculation to avoid study samples from being
included in the 90th percent calculation.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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> What happened? What is being done?
• Why are there high levels of lead in my drinking water (if known)?
• What are you (the water system) doing to reduce the lead levels in your facility?
• Your system may also want to provide information on the history of lead levels in tap samples: have
they declined substantially over time? Have they been low and risen recently? Is there a known reason
for any change?
^ For more information
Call us at [Insert Number]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and
the health effects of lead, visit EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/lead, call the National Lead Information Center at
1-800-424-LEAD, or contact your health care provider.
• We recommend you include the name of your system and the date that the information is being
distributed, along with the state water system ID, somewhere on the notice.
II. Required Delivery Methods for Your Public Education Materials
Table 2 provides a summary of the required PE activities and the timing of their implementation. (Appendix
B contains templates for all of the types of required notices and the required content).
Table 2. Required Methods of Delivery for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems1
Requirement
Post informational posters on lead in drinking water in
a public place or common area in each of the buildings
served by the system.
Distribute informational pamphlets and/or brochures
on lead in drinking water to each person served by the
NTNCWS.2
Timing
Within 60 days of the end of the monitoring
period in which the exceedance occured and
repeating once every 12 months
Within 60 days of the end of the monitoring
period in which the exceedance occured and
repeating once every 12 months3
1 For systems that are required to conduct monitoring annually or less frequently, the end of the monitoring period is
September 30 of the calendar year in which the sampling occurs, or, if the State has established an alternate monitoring
period, the last day of that period.
2 The State may allow the NTNCWS to utilize electronic transmission in lieu of or combined with printed materials as long as
it achieves at least the same coverage.
3 System may discontinue delivery of PE materials if the system has met the lead action level during the most recent six-
month monitoring period conducted pursuant to §141.86. System will recommence PE in accordance with this section if
it subsequently exceeds the lead action level during any monitoring period.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
III. Developing Your Public Education Program Plan
Meeting the requirements outlined above will require a good deal of effort on the part of a water system
to implement the required activities, and within the timeframe. The most effective way to implement
these requirements it to develop a PE Program Plan in advance of an exceedance. This plan will help you
determine what activities you will want to undertake during your routine monitoring and what you will
need to do to implement your required PE activities in the event of an exceedance.
The flowchart below lists seven recommended steps for designing and implementing your PE Program
Plan. Each step corresponds to a more detailed description included in Sections 2 and 3 of this guidance
document. Page 19 includes a simple checklist of actions you may wish to conduct as you design and
execute your PE Program Plan.
Public Education Flow Chart
Conduct Monitoring Activities
1
In the Event of an Exceedance
i
Continue Monitoring
1
Conclude PE Once
Exceedance Has Ended
Design Your PE Program
i
Know Your PE Requirements
1
Know Your Target Audience
1
Contact Your Community Partners
i
Prepare Your Messages
I
Identify Your Communication Channels
1
Determine Your Outreach Material Needs
i
Update Your PE Program Plan
i
Implement Your PE Program
Communicate with the Public
Conduct Media Outreach
Note: A water system may discontinue delivery of public education materials when the system has met the lead action level during the most
recent six month monitoring period.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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I1" Step 1: Know Your PE Requirements
Refer to pages 5-8 of this Section to review the required content and delivery mechanisms for your PE
program.
I1" Step 2: Know Your Target Audience
Knowing who is in your target audience is an important first step. This will help guide your efforts to
craft messages and materials, develop effective partnerships, and determine how (and through whom)
to deliver these message and materials for maximum impact. (See Pages 12-13 to learn more about
identifying your target audiences).
I1" Step 3: Contact Your Community Partners
Once you know your requirements and who you will be contacting, develop partnerships with health
care providers and other key public health officials in your community who may be called upon to
answer questions from those served by your facility. You should educate these partners about your PE
requirements and PE program, and let them know what assistance they can provide, such as quickly
reaching the community and providing input in planning your PE program. (See Pages 13-14 to learn
more about working with your public health partners). Appendix C contains additional information for
identifying and contacting potential partners.
I1" Step 4: Prepare Your Messages
After identifying your audience and resources and talking with your partners, you should identify the
messages and most effective activities and delivery methods to reach your audiences. Page 8 provides
specific information on the delivery methods you are required to conduct. Consider the education
level of your audience and use the templates in Appendix B to customize your PE materials (and keep in
mind the required content detailed on Pages 5-6). Preparing templates ahead of time will help make
compliance within the standard timelines more feasible. (See Pages 14-15 to learn more about preparing
your messages).
I1" Step 5: Identify Your Communication Channels
Knowing what messages and delivery methods you will likely be targeting, you can contact the
appropriate channels to prepare for implementation. Work with the partners you established in Step 3 to
enlist their assistance in reaching high-risk groups. (See Pages 15-16 to learn more about communication
channels). Appendix C contains additional information for identifying communication channels.
I1" Step 6: Determine Your Outreach Material Needs
Identify what materials you will need and what processes you will need to put in place to produce them
quickly. You should determine how many copies of materials you will need, the costs for producing
materials, the amount of time printers will need to produce materials, and contact information for
printers, web designers, and others who will assist you in materials preparation. (See Pages 16-17 to learn
more about planning your outreach material needs).
> Step 7: Update Your PE Program Plan
Periodically, you should review and update your PE Program Plan. This should include updating all
contacts, talking with your community partners to confirm their willingness and ability to assist you
in the event of an exceedance, and determining if any new methods or ideas for reaching your target
audiences are available to you. All resources and prices associated with creating and producing your PE
outreach materials should also be checked and updated.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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Section 2
Designing an Effective Public Education Program
This section describes the recommended steps you should consider in planning your public education (PE)
program. Because NTNCWS vary in type of facility and settings, the level of effort, types of outreach, and
key aspects of information communicated should be determined on an individual basis. Keep in mind your
facility type, setting, audience (e.g. school, church, factory), and situation. For example, a school may send
PE materials to the homes of its student body; whereas, a factory might send a company-wide email and post
PE materials in the cafeteria to reach customers. These steps
can help you prepare for PE should your system experience a
lead action level exceedence.
This section is organized around the following key steps:
^ Step 1: Know Your PE Requirements
> Step 2: Know Your Audience
^ Step 3: Contact Your Community Partners
> Step 4: Prepare Your Messages
^ Step 5: Identify Your Communication Channels
> Step 6: Determine Your Outreach Material Needs
^ Step 7: Update Your PE Program Plan
Creating an effective PE program requires careful planning
and timely execution. Increasingly, the public expects service
providers to share health risk information in a timely and
effective way. Prompt and thorough communication allows
the public to understand a health risk issue and take action
to minimize their personal risk until the risk is resolved.
Risk information should be clear, thoughtful, and should be
delivered in a manner that meets the needs of all members of
your community. Waiting until a lead action level exceedance
has occurred to plan your program and materials creates an
unnecessary burden on your system and may result in rushed
and less effective communications with your facility occupants.
Step 1: Know Your PE Requirements
TIP: An effective PE Program
equals effective risk
communication
There are several guidelines for effective risk
communication that should be considered
when designing a PE campaign.
> Take the initiative in providing
information.
> Plan your efforts in advance and evaluate
them upon completion.
> Listen to your facility occupants and
acknowledge their concerns.
> Be a reliable source of information.
Provide honest, accurate, and
comprehensive information.
> Partner with trusted sources in your
community.
> Provide timely and accurate information.
> Always speak with a consistent voice.
Designate one point of contact that can
respond to the public.
> Make PE materials easy to read and
understand for people with differing
educational levels.
Section 1 of this guidance document outlined the required activities, content, and delivery mechanisms
water systems must implement in the event of a lead action level exceedance. Non-transient non-
community water systems (NTNCWS) are required to communicate with their primacy agency when an
exceedance is identified. As part of your planning, you should identify the contact at the primacy agency for
consultations on PE requirements. Review pages 5-8 to understand your PE requirements and see Appendix
D for the Federal regulatory language.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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TIP: Research your audience in
advance to understand any unique
requirements they may have.
> What languages are spoken
in your facility or facility
community?
> Within each language
community, what percentage
of people is also proficient in
English?
> Are there large numbers of
people in your facility with low
literacy levels?
> What sources of information do
these groups trust?
2:
Once you have reviewed your PE program requirements, the next
step is to determine the audience(s) for your PE program activities.
For NTNCWS, your primary audience is those who use or work in
your facility.
Identifying your key audiences and their information needs is,
perhaps, the most important step that you can take when planning
your program. The size, location, and cultural composition of your
audiences will have a direct effect on the design of your program
— from the educational materials you use to how you distribute
information. Effective risk communication requires that important
messages reach those who need to hear them when they are ready
to hear them and in a way they can understand. In some cases,
effectiveness is determined by the person communicating the message
(i.e., using health care providers to educate expectant mothers) while
in other cases, effectiveness is determined by the way the information
is presented (i.e. through flyers, mass media, etc.). Whatever the case, understanding your audience and
their needs is essential for determining how and where to deliver information that educates, promotes
desired behaviors and actions, and creates confidence in your system's ability to deal with an exceedance.
Below are some of the audience segments that you must reach out to when conducting your PE Program.
> General public. This includes everyone in your facility that may be affected by an action level
exceedance.
^ High-risk Groups. Those particularly vulnerable to lead in drinking water exposure include children 6
years of age and younger, infants, and pregnant women. Your PE program should target these high-risk
groups, deliver materials and messages that make the risks clear, and provide actionable recommendations
for how to protect oneself and ones children from the risks of lead in drinking water.
> Different Language Communities. If significant proportions of the population in your facility speak
languages other than English, you might be required to provide education materials on lead in drinking
water in the appropriate language(s). Check with your primary agency for a determination.
^ Low-literacy Audiences. Some individuals in your facilty area may possess limited reading skills. To
reach these individuals, print materials must be written as simply and concisely as possible and should
contain graphical representations of key messages and actions.
of iro
Local Public Health Agency
The local public heath agency is a key point of contact as they are a first source of information for many
people, especially vulnerable populations. The local health department is not only a recognized and reliable
source of information, the local public health agency is the authority that coordinates communication to
affected individuals in the NTNCWS setting. The local public health agency can advise a NTNCWS how
to target their outreach to staff, patrons, students, etc. The local public health agency is likely to be asked
questions when there is an issue related to lead in drinking water. Provide them with information on your
water system's plans when an exceedance occurs so that they can answer questions about your facility.
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Facility Resources
Keep in mind your unique facility type and setting when determining information sources for your
audiences. Consider school office personnel, human resource staff, shop steward, union representative,
church secretary and other persons responsible for regular interactions with your facility audience when
gathering information about consumers in your facility. These individuals or departments should have
information on the predominant languages spoken by your consumers which can inform how you prepare
and deliver your messages and materials. Use these individuals or departments to help ensure that you are
meeting all of the communication needs of your facility's consumers.
Now that you understand your PE program requirements and know your audiences, you should assemble
a communication or outreach team within your facility and establish partnerships. You may already have a
communication team or person(s) that can be utilized to implement the PE program. Water systems that
seek assistance from a variety of community partners to inform PE efforts and to design PE programs are
more successful at implementing effective PE campaigns than those that do not. A diverse team comprised of
community members representing the various audiences within your facility can provide your water system
with: access to a wide range of resources; understanding of the audience segments and the best ways to reach
them; and ready-made communication channels that you can access in the event of an exceedance. (See
Appendix Cfor additional information on community resources).
IBnvft 4"«
Collaborating with public health officials is crucial to developing an effective PE effort. Different parts of the
health department, including maternal and child health, community health, environmental health, and other
sections, can assist you in developing your materials and conducting effective outreach. Local public health
agencies often know how to reach specific segments of your target audience because they may have had to conduct
a similarly targeted outreach campaign before.
Suggested PE Community Partners
> City, county, and State government officials including representatives of the city, county, or municipal council;
the mayor's, city administrator's, or county commissioner's office
> City or county government agencies including the public affairs, health, and environmental protection
departments, and local agencies responsible for lead screening programs
> Representatives of public hospitals and/or clinics
> Private sector leaders such as child care centers, health care providers, health care facilities or clinics, and
hospitals that may have ties to your facility audiences
Remember that the public health community is a much larger group than just the local government agencies.
Local universities, community based organizations, health care providers and insurers, nurse practitioners, and
many others create the network of care that surrounds those living and working in your facility. You should try
to access as many of these organizations as you can to determine the
most effective communication channels and outreach tactics for your PE TIP: Because of their interactions
campaign. The more allies you have, the better. with your audiences, local health
Develop a relationship and response plan with your local health professionals need to understand
. .. . r i • now a 'ead action level exceedance
department so that you have an agreed upon process for sharing affects their constituents and
patients.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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information about lead in drinking water risks and aswering questions from your facility community. Your
facility community members may call the health department for information about the health risks described
in your PE materials; if you coordinate in advance, you can ensure that, regardless of who they call, your public
hears consistent messages that will help them understand the risks and how to manage them. Establishing and
maintaining relationships with these individuals as you plan your program will make it easier to work with
these individuals in the event of an exceedance.
•, y;; ...... :s .....
Evaluate whether or not the media is an effective way to reach your target audiences. For example the media may
be helpful in reaching a school audience but other methods, such as interoffice mail or email, may be better suited
for a factory. Where appropriate, your local media (print, radio, and television) can be a powerful ally in planning
and executing your PE program. More than any other communication channel, the media can rapidly reach a large
number of people with educational messages. Although working with the media may be challenging at times,
planning ahead will help you to quickly and effectively engage them should you have an exceedance. (See
Section 3 for information on working with the media during an exceedance).
Designate one person on your staff to serve as a liaison to the media. Media outlets will need to know who
they can speak to about an exceedance and any ramifications for the public. In the event of an exceedance, all
media inquiries should be directed to the media spokesperson. This will ensure that messages coming from
your water system are consistent and contain accurate information.
As part of your planning for media engagement, identify individuals in your community (e.g. public health
officials, scientists, experts from local universities, etc.) who can serve as experts for the media to contact.
These individuals should be very familiar with issues related to lead in drinking water — preferably they are
members of your team who you have educated thoroughly about your lead monitoring program and who
know your commitment to safeguarding the public health, steps individual customers can take to protect
against lead health risks, your PE campaign plan, and your plan for solving the problem.
4;
Now that you have identified your target audiences and determined what specific communication needs they
might have, the next step is to prepare your PE messages. For drinking water-related issues, your facility user
is most likely to be interested in:
^ Health and safety implications. (Is my or my family's health in danger?)
> Simple advice and guidance. (What should I do to stay safe?)
^ Practical implications, such as potential service interruptions. (How will this affect my daily life?)
You do not have to wait for an exceedance to begin preparing your
messages. The required PE language (as detailed in Section 1)
considers the public's risk communication needs, but your system will
want to customize your communications to convey actions you are
taking as a system to address the exceedance. Developing your key
messages and identifying materials to distribute to the public (Step
5) will ensure that, should an exceedance occur, you will be ready to
deliver materials that educate your customers, empower people to
take action to protect their health, and build trust between you and
your facility users.
TIP: Effective messages should:
> Be clear and concise.
> Be compelling, encourage action, and
explain how to take action.
> Communicate the risks from all sources
of lead with a particular emphasis on
drinking water.
> Meet the communication needs of your
entire facility community (See Step 2).
14
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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When you think about preparing messages, consider that doing so also allows you to train spokespersons and create
fact sheets, brochures, email announcements, and other materials before you ever have to deal with an exceedance.
Keep in mind that Section 1 contains information about the messages your PE materials are required to contain.
Step 5: Identify Communication Channels to Get Your Message Out
The next step after determining what messages you will use in your PE Program is to identify what
mechanisms you will use to get your messages out to your target audiences. Consider your individual facility
and setting to determine appropriate communication channels. Evaluate the best channel for your audience
and consider all users of your facility.
Table 2 (in Section 1) includes the required delivery mechanisms for your water system. You should
assemble a list of contacts within your facility and facility community and
TIP: Effective risk
communication requires
that any member of the
affected public should
know who to contact for
,,,-,.,..,, , . . , , more information and
Many or the individuals or partners that may serve as communication channels
distribution plans to ensure that, when you need to implement your PE
campaign, the pathways for sharing your information and reinforcing your
messages are already in place.
should already be on your PE planning team. Those that may play a role in the
event of an exceedance and who are not on your team will need some specific
information from you as you are establishing the relationship. Make sure all of
how they can learn more
about lead in drinking
water and lead health
the partners you expect to work with know:
> What to expect if an action level exceedance occurs.
^ What to do with the materials that you provide them.
> How to reach the key person/s responsible for your drinking water PE program.
Tips for Planning Your Messages and Outreach
Keep a Contact List and Keep it up to date. Periodically, update your list of target organizations. Include the
name of a contact person at each school, hospital, clinic, child care provider, social service or other organization
through which you plan to distribute your PE materials. Make sure you have the address, phone number, email, and
any contact information you need to quickly reach these organizations.
Learn from the Professionals and Recruit Advocates. Meet with your local health department officials and ask
them about the most effective means of communicating to target populations in your facility (see Step 3).
Educate and Learn from Your Advocates. Explain why lead is something you monitor, how you monitor, what
you are required to do in the event an exceedance, how they can help you and why they should care to help you,
what they can expect to receive from you in the event of an exceedance, and what you would like them to do. Ask
them what they have found to be effective methods for sharing health risk information with your facility audiences.
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While not required, EPA suggests that, depending on the type of facility and who uses the facility,
NTNCWS also contact:
Maternity programs/birthing classes
Teen parent programs
Parent teacher organizations
Parent support organizations
Maternity programs/birthing classes
Teen parent programs
Parent teacher organizations
Parent support organizations
Women's shelters
Family/general practices and nurse practitioners
Institutes of higher education
Local non profit health groups
In addition to the required delivery mechanisms, depending on the type of facility, EPA recommends
reaching out to your facility through:
Facility newsletters
Facility Web site
^ Letters to parents
^ School or facility assemblies
^- PTA or other meetings
You should also share key information and messages with all of your employees. Your system's employees are
all ambassadors for the system as they go about doing their work. Keeping them well informed is critical, as
they will get questions and should be prepared to address issues from your customers.
It is ideal to establish relationships and mechanisms for sharing information before an action level exceedance
occurs. By coordinating with these groups, you can establish a ready-to-go plan for communication, build
understanding of why information about lead in drinking water is important and why at risk populations
need to know about lead in drinking water, and prepare staff to discuss lead health risks.
Step 6: Determine Your Outreach Material Needs
The next step you should take in designing your PE program is determining what materials you will provide
and how you will make them available. As you are identifying how best to reach your target audiences, keep
in mind any production processes that will need to occur between the time you finalize your materials and
the time they are ready for distribution.
^ Identify approximately how many copies of brochure, pamphlets,
and posters you will need to print for quick distribution. Be sure
to make extra copies of all materials should you need to distribute
several mailings during the exceedance.
> Determine if your system has the capability to quickly generate
these materials and in the needed quantities.
> Identify vendors in your community that can quickly reproduce
the materials that you need and regularly check in with them to
ensure that they can meet your needs.
^ Negotiate an agreement with printers ahead of time so that you are
not forced to negotiate your terms when you are under pressure to
meet a deadline.
TIP: When considering the need
for materials for multiple language
audiences, plan ahead for translation
help. If you can establish contacts
with institutions and people who can
translate notices into other languages,
you can ask them to support your
planning efforts by translating your
draft materials. If possible, get all of
the required messages translated in
advance so if you have an exceedance,
you can simply fill in the final
information required to complete
your notices and send them to print.
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Assemble additional materials you may want to distribute with your PE materials, such as fact sheets and
other supporting materials on the health effects of lead. These materials are available at no-cost from EPA's
Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791 or EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead/
index.html. In the event of an action level exceedance, you will already have the explanatory materials your
consumers may ask for after receiving your notices. EPA's materials are updated periodically, so check the
Web site regularly to make sure that you have the most recent versions. The Hotline also can provide phone
numbers for state laboratory certification offices where consumers can get a list of labs certified to conduct
lead testing.
7: PE
During the course of your monitoring activities (and if there is no
exceedance), you should update your PE Program Plan periodically.
Contact all of your community partners (if you have not done so on a
regular basis) and determine if you have correct contact information.
Update any material templates you have created (with any new
information on corrosion control or other activities undertaken
by your water system to control lead in drinking water). Contact
all of the printers and vendors that you will use to produce your
materials in the event of an exceedance. Update your local public
health agencies and providers about your lead program and any
activities you are taking to reduce lead and monitor drinking water
supplies. Finally, contact your local media to update them on your
efforts and to address any question they may have about your systems
monitoring or corrosion control activities.
TIP: When preparing your
materials, keep in mind the variety
of customers that you serve and
their unique needs (Step 2). For
example, your audience research
will tell you if you have a large
Hispanic population serviced in your
facility. You may learn from your
partner organizations that many
Hispanics in your community read
particular periodicals and convene
at specific locations.
By keeping your plan updated and maintaining regular contact with your community partners and the
media, you will ensure that, should you have an exceedance, you will have all of the mechanisms in place to
quickly and effectively respond with your PE program.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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Section 3
Implementing Your Public Education Program
A lead action level exceedance triggers the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requirements for Public Education
(PE) and establishes a timeline for performing required activities. In most cases, your PE activities must
be implemented within 60 days of the end of the monitoring period. See Table 1 to review the specific
requirements for PE if you have an exceedance.
Section 2 of this guidance document outlined the suggested steps you
should take to design your PE program, prior to an exceedance. In
this section, key activities for implementing your PE program are
presented. These activities include:
> Produce Your PE Materials
> Distribute Your PE Materials
> Contact Your Local Media
> Communicate Directly with the Public
> Conclude Your PE Activities (at the End of the Exceedance)
TIP: It is important to remember
that education programs can
only be effective when they
are administered over time.
Competing demands for
people's attention—information
overload—can be a significant
impediment to understanding.
Therefore, you should meet the
initial PE requirements as soon as
possible and pace your additional
PE activities over several months
to ensure that your public has
multiple opportunities to receive
your messages.
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The checklist below provides the key activities your program will need to take in order to effectively
implement the PE requirements and reach your key audiences. Refer to Appendix B for a checklist you can
tear out and use as you complete your activities.
Checklist for Implementing Your PE Program
•S Notify your primacy agency of an action level exceedance triggering your PE program.
•S Notify your system's decision maker (owner or president) of the exceedance.
•S Review your PE requirements (Section 1) and the timeline for delivering PE materials (see
Table 1).
S Notify your communication or outreach team of the exceedance and enlist their assistance
in implementing your plan.
•S Inform all of your employees about your activities so that they can respond to customer
questions or issues.
S Implement your phone tree and contact your conduit organizations to let them know that
an exceedance has occurred and that you will be sending them materials for distribution.
•S Update your PE material templates with information on the exceedance, actions you are
taking to address it, and any other relevant information.
S Work with translators to finalize materials for multiple language audiences.
S Prepare mailing labels for your dissemination mechanisms.
S Duplicate your pamphlets, flyers, posters, or other printed materials and prepare to deliver
them to your conduit organizations.
•S Meet with representatives from your local health agency (in person or by phone) to alert
them to the exceedance and provide them with materials they can distribute to the public.
S Document your PE activities and report back to your primacy agency on completion of
activities as required.
•S Schedule and conduct public meetings as needed.
•S Continue to conduct your monitoring activities as required.
S Notify your customers when the action level exceedance has ended.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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A critical first step in implementing your PE program in
the event of an exceedance is to produce the materials
you have determined in your planning that you will need
to distribute to your target audiences. The following
information will help you finalize your materials in
accordance with the LCR requirements and prepare
them for quick delivery to your conduit organizations
and your community.
See Section 1 for a reminder of the LCR requirements
for content for PE materials.
Appendix B provides template pamphlets with the
mandatory language you must provide to your
customers. Note that electronic fill in the blank versions
of these materials are available on the internet at www.
epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/compliancehelp.html for
systems to update and customize the documents with
their system-specific information.
Appendix B contains templates for a variety of public
education materials that your system can use to support
your efforts. These templates include:
> Brochure
> Poster
^ Listserv or Web site Announcement
Tips for Creating PE Materials
That Work
> Place the most important information
first. Most readers only read the top half
of printed materials and focus on large
text such as headings and bolded text. The
most important information, especially
instructions to protect consumers' health,
should be placed on the top half of the
notice in large print. Smaller type is
appropriate for less critical elements.
> Limit wordiness. A question and answer
or heading and subheading format is
easy to read and guides readers to the
information that is likely to concern them.
Risk communication studies have shown
that when dealing with potential health
risks, people become emotional and have
difficulty processing information. The
best way to help the public understand
your messages is to communicate a
limited number of messages and to strive
for consistency of messaging across all
communications media. If people hear your
few, simple messages over and over again,
they are more likely to accurately estimate
their risks and to take the right steps to
manage them.
> Use graphics, such as photographs or
drawings, to illustrate your messages.
Wherever possible, provide an image that
describes the actions the public should take
to protect themselves from potential health
risks.
> Highlight the name of your system,
especially where people in your area are
served by more than one water system.
You may want to print materials on your
facility's letterhead which, coupled with the
material's title, will help people recognize
that it is important.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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Deliver Your PE Materials
Once you have produced your PE materials, the next step is to deliver them through the various conduit
organizations and communications channels that you identified in your program design (See Section 2, Step 6).
As a reminder, see Section 1 for the required delivery mechanisms and materials.
Tips for Effective Communications
> Be truthful and up-front about water quality issues and the exceedance.
> Don't be defensive when answering questions.
> Answer questions as well as you can, but don't be afraid to say that you need to check on something if there is a
question you can't answer (and once you find the information, quickly report back on what you've found).
> Keep in mind that reporters are not familiar with State or Federal requirements for safe drinking water - avoid
technical jargon!
> Provide additional sources of information (for instance, referrals to State contacts, local experts, or EPA fact sheets).
Contact Your Local Media
TIP: Whenever possible, visit your media
contacts in person to request coverage.
Though not required for NTNCWS, to help disseminate your PE
messages, you may consider calling your local media to help you
inform and protect your consumers. Explain to the media in clear
and open terms what you are required to do to communicate about an action level exceedance and make it
easy for them to identify the most important information, including information that led to detection of the
action level exceedance, the populations most at risk from elevated lead levels in drinking water and potential
health effects, actions consumers can take to reduce their risks, and actions your water system is taking to
address the problem. This may be particularly important if your facility is used by community groups, clubs,
or others.
Communicate Directly with the Public
Effective PE campaigns can minimize the chances of overreaction to an action level exceedance and can
help focus your facility's attention on the source of a problem. A robust PE campaign that explains what an
exceedance means and the specific steps you are taking to address the issue can be an excellent public relations
tool. Such a campaign will help to create a partnership between you and your customers that demonstrates your
commitment to providing safe water and reduces the prevalence of the "us versus them" mentality.
Quickly distributing the required and recommended materials to all your target populations will help reduce
the chance that people will become alarmed and overreact to information about an exceedance. If you
have planned your distribution of materials through communication channels and partners effectively and
established close relationships with conduits, your materials should reach your community prompdy and
educate them about the issue.
In addition to distributing messages and materials to your community, public meetings, such as assemblies, PTA
meetings, employee/union meetings, and church assemblies, are an effective avenue for directly communicating
with your audiences about the exceedance and your activities to address it. Well advertised meetings provide a
forum where the public can ask questions and meet individuals responsible for addressing the lead issue.
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Your public education program is required to provide ongoing messages until the action level exceedance has
ended. This continued education effort will keep your public informed about any continuing issues related
to lead in drinking water and keep them abreast of progress your system is making toward resolving the
problem. Once the issue has been resolved, continue to provide your consumers information about lead in
drinking water, if requested.
After the exceedance has ended, conducting follow-up evaluation of the effectiveness of your PE campaign
can help to ensure that the messages in your materials were received as intended and that all target audiences
understood your materials. The results of such an analysis can help mold future efforts and guide you on
areas where you may want to refine your planning. Polling your customers can directly gauge their opinion
of the outreach by determining their awareness of the exceedance, how they perceived the information, and
if they were satisfied with and could understand it.
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Conclusion
The steps outlined in this guidance document and the tips provided are designed to provide you with all
of the background you need to design and implement an effective PE program. Following the guidance
provided will allow you to reach out to all your customers, including those that are the most vulnerable
to adverse health effects from lead exposure, with messages and delivery methods that meet your facility
community's diverse communication needs. The partnerships you create can serve as important ties for all
of your work, regardless of whether your system experiences an exceedance. Most importantly, the guidance
provided in this document establishes an effective framework for communicating with your consumers about
the many issues your water system addresses.
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Appendix A
Frequently Asked Questions
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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in
Lead is not usually found in water that comes from wells or water treatment plants. More commonly lead
can enter drinking water when the water comes in contact with plumbing materials such as lead pipes or
lead solder, or when it comes in contact with faucets, valves, and other components made of brass (brass may
have lead in it). This interaction is referred to as corrosion.
Even though your water supplier may deliver water that meets all federal and state standards for lead, you
may end up with elevated lead levels in your drinking water because of the plumbing in the facility.
is it?
Our water system is working to educate our consumers about steps for reducing exposure to lead in drinking
water and the health risks associated with exposure to lead. In addition, our water system is conducting
a number of activities aimed at reducing high lead levels and possible exposures. For example [insert
information on your system's corrosion control program; lead service line replacement efforts; and/or other
activities you are undertaking to reduce lead in drinking water in your community.]
1 do to
Flush your pipes before drinking, and only use cold water for cooking and drinking. The more time water
has been sitting in your home's pipes, the more lead it may contain. Anytime the water in a particular
faucet has not been used for six hours or longer, "flush" your cold-water pipes by running the water until it
becomes as cold as it will get. This could take as little as five to thirty seconds if there has been recent heavy
water use such as showering or toilet flushing. Otherwise, it could take two minutes or longer. Your water
utility will inform you if longer flushing times are needed to respond to local conditions. Please note that
flushing may not be effective in high-rise buildings.
TIP: If you are considering
replacing lead containing
fixtures, keep in mind that
plumbing fixtures labeled
lead-free may have up to 8%
lead. However, plumbing
fixtures labeled National
Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
certified may only have up to
2% lead.
Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking, and especially
for making baby formula. Hot water is likely to contain higher levels of lead.
You may also consider using a lead reducing filter tested and certified by
an independent third party for such ability per the standards set by NSF
International.
"""""," • • • :. •"
Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful to human health when it is ingested or
inhaled. The greatest risk it to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Small amounts slow down
normal mental development in growing children and alter the development of other organs and systems.
The effects of lead on the brain are associated with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems
and high blood pressure are more likely to be affected by low levels of lead than the general population.
Lead is stored in the bones allowing it to be released even after exposure stops. The presence in bone
increases the concern for exposure at all points of the life cycle.
EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure to lead may come from lead in drinking water.
* Note: Theses questions and answers are provided to water systems to help address the types of questions that may arise from consumers during
implementation of a PE Program. This information or the language above should not be used as a substitute for the mandatory content required
under the LCR, as outlined in Section 1.
27
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Infants who consume mostly formula prepared with tap water can receive 40 to 60 percent of their exposure
to lead from drinking water.
No, boiling water does not remove lead. Boiling water can concentrate lead levels and increase the amount of
lead in water.
If your facility includes services for infants, it is important to know that hot water dissolves lead more
quickly than cold water and is therefore more likely to contain greater amounts of lead. Never use water
from the hot water tap for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula.
Some faucet and pitcher filters can remove lead from drinking water. If you use a filter, be sure to get one
that is tested and certified by an independent third party per the standards developed by NSF International.
Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions to protect
water quality.
The action level for lead has been set at 15 parts per billion (ppb) because EPA believes, given present
technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which small and medium-size water systems can be
reasonably required to control this contaminant should it occur in drinking water at their customers home
taps. Our water system is required to notify our consumers when our test results show levels of lead above
the 15 ppb action level in >10% of samples collected.
For more information, visit •„•: :•..•'....; ..•: or call EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
1-800-426-4791. Your state or local public health department will also be able to provide information about
lead.
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Appendix B
Public Education Material Templates*
* Checklist for Implementing Your PE Program
* General PE Notice
> ListServ/Email Announcement
> Brochure
* Poster
'Customizable versions of these templates are available for download at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/compliancehelp.html
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Checklist for Implementing Your PE Program
D Notify your primacy agency of an action level exceedance triggering your PE program.
D Notify your system's decision maker/s of the exceedance.
D Review your PE requirements (Section 1) and the timeline for delivering PE materials
(see Table 1).
D Notify your communication or outreach team of the exceedance and enlist their
assistance in implementing your plan.
D Inform all of your employees about your activities so that they can respond to
customer questions or issues.
D Implement your phone tree and contact your conduit organizations to let them know
that an exceedance has occurred and that you will be sending them materials for
distribution.
D Update your PE material templates with information on the exceedance, actions you
are taking to address it, and any other relevant information.
D Work with translators to finalize materials for multiple language audiences.
D Prepare mailing labels for your dissemination mechanisms.
D Duplicate your pamphlets, flyers, posters, or other printed materials and prepare to
deliver them to your conduit organizations.
D Meet with representatives from your local health agency (in person or by phone) to
alert them to the exceedance and provide them with materials they can distribute to
the public.
D Document your PE activities and report back to your primacy agency on completion of
activities as required.
D Schedule and conduct public meetings, as needed.
D Continue to conduct your monitoring activities as required.
D Notify your customers when the action level exceedance has ended.
'Customizable versions of these templates are available for download at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/compliancehelp.html
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Spanish language templates are under development
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FdtJtatfiWi
The following language meets the revised PE requirements under the 2007 short-term revisions and
clarifications to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). Your notice must include the topic areas in bold
below. Anything in italics under each topic area is required language and cannot be changed while anything
in regular text must be covered, but you may use either the suggested language or your own words to cover
the subject.
Your notice must begin with the following opening statement (though you have the option to include a title
of the pamphlet or brochure of your choosing):
[Insert name of water system] found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings. Lead can
cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information
closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
This notice is being sent to you by [insert the name of your water system]. State Water System ID# [insert
your water system's ID number] Date [Insert the date distributed]
Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can
cause damage to the brain and kidneys, andean interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen
to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women.
Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with loweredIQ in children. Adults with kidney problems
and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones
and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones, which may
affect brain development.
Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure.
The main sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust or soil, and some
plumbing materials. In addition, lead can be found in certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures, food,
and cosmetics. Other sources include exposure in the work place and exposure from certain hobbies (lead
can be carried on clothing or shoes).
New brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as "lead-free," may contribute lead to
drinking water. The law currently allows end-use brass fixtures, such as faucets, with up to 8 percent lead
to be labeled as "lead free." However, plumbing fixtures labeled National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
certified may only have up to 2 percent lead. Consumers should be aware of this when choosing fixtures and
take appropriate precautions.
EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of a person's potential exposure to lead may come from drinking water.
Infants who consume mostly formula mixed with lead-containing water can receive 40 to 60 percent of their
exposure to lead from drinking water.
Don't forget about other sources of lead such as lead paint, lead dust, and lead in soil. Wash your children's
'Customizable versions of these templates are available for download at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/compliancehelp.html
"^-.•••:" •••' -:•. :,.'., .-.•. 37
-------
hands and toys often as they can come into contact with dirt and dust containing lead.
1. Run your water to flush out lead. Run water for 15-30 seconds [or insert a different flushing time
if your system has representative data indicating a different flushing time would better reduce lead
exposure in your community and if the State Primacy Agency approves the wording] or until it becomes
cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking, if it hasn't been used for
several hours. This flushes lead-containing water from the pipes.
2. Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the
hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to
make baby formula.
3. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
4. Look for alternative sources or treatment of water. You may want to consider purchasing bottled
water or a water filter. Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact NSF
International at 800-NSF-8010 or v, \ v,. •;•.<• for information on performance standards for water
filters. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
to protect water quality.
5. Get your child tested. Contact your local health department or healthcare provider to find out how you
can get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure.
[Insert information about how and when the exceedance was discovered in your community and provide
information on the source(s) of lead in the drinking water, if known.]
[Insert information about what your system is doing to reduce lead levels in your facility]
[Insert information about the history of lead levels in tap water samples in your facility. For example, have
they declined substantially over time? Have they been low and risen recently? Is there a known reason for
any lead level changes?]
Call us at [insertyour water system's phone number]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around
your home/building and the health effects of lead, visitEPA's Web site at -.-'vv i ••>..• ..;••.< /A.',.;./, call the National
Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD or Safe Drinking Water Act hotline at 1-800-426-4791, or
contact your health care provider.
[Include the name of your system and the date that the information is being distributed, along with the state
water system ID, somewhere on the notice.]
38
-------
Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Many communities, neighborhood councils, and conduit organizations serving specific audiences in your facility
maintain listservs or electronic bulletin boards where information important to the consumers can be placed. Your
State may also allow you to use electronic transmission in lieu of or combined with printed materials as long as it
achieves at least the same coverage. The following language meets the revised PE requirements under the 2007
revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). Your notice must include the topic areas in bold below.
Anything in italics under each topic area is required language and cannot be changed while anything in
regular text must be covered, but you may use either the suggested language or your own words to cover the
subject.
Your notice must begin with the following opening statement (though you have the option to include a title
of the pamphlet or brochure of your choosing):
[Insert name or your water system] found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings. Lead
can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and children 6 years and under. Please
read this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can
cause damage to the brain and kidneys, andean interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen
to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women.
Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with loweredIQ in children. Adults with kidney problems
and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones
and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones, which may
affect brain development.
Lead is a common metal found in the environment. Drinking water is one possible source of lead exposure.
The main sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust or soil, and some
plumbing materials. In addition, lead can be found in certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures, food,
and cosmetics. Other sources include exposure in the work place and exposure from certain hobbies (lead
can be carried on clothing or shoes).
New brass faucets, fittings, and valves, including those advertised as "lead-free," may contribute lead to
drinking water. The law currently allows end-use brass fixtures, such as faucets, with up to 8 percent lead
to be labeled as "lead free." However, plumbing fixtures labeled National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
certified may only have up to 2 percent lead. Consumers should be aware of this when choosing fixtures and
take appropriate precautions.
EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of a person's potential exposure to lead may come from drinking water.
Infants who consume mostly formula mixed with lead-containing water can receive 40 to 60 percent of their
exposure to lead from drinking water.
Don't forget about other sources of lead such as lead paint, lead dust, and lead in soil. Wash your children's
'Customizable versions of these templates are available for download at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/compliancehelp.html
.. :Vi :::.' K .. , .. / ' 39
-------
hands and toys often as they can come into contact with dirt and dust containing lead.
1. Run your water to flush out lead. Run water for 15-30 seconds [or insert a different flushing time
if your system has representative data indicating a different flushing time would better reduce lead
exposure in your community and if the State Primacy Agency approves the wording] or until it becomes
cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking, if it hasn't been used for
several hours. This flushes lead-containing water from the pipes.
2. Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Do not cook with or drink water from the
hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not use water from the hot water tap to
make baby formula.
3. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water will not reduce lead.
4. Look for alternative sources or treatment of water. You may want to consider purchasing bottled
water or a water filter. Read the package to be sure the filter is approved to reduce lead or contact NSF
International at 800-NSF-8010 or v,\ v,. •;• for information on performance standards for water
filters. Be sure to maintain and replace a filter device in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
to protect water quality.
5. Get your child tested. Contact your local health department or healthcare provider to find out how you
can get your child tested for lead if you are concerned about exposure.
[Insert information about how and when the exceedance was discovered in your community and provide
information on the source(s) of lead in the drinking water, if known.]
[Insert information about what your system is doing to reduce lead levels in your facility]
[Insert information about the history of lead levels in tap water samples in your facility. For example, have
they declined substantially over time? Have they been low and risen recently? Is there a known reason for
any lead level changes?]
Call us at [insertyour water system's phone number]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around
your home/building and the health effects of lead, visitEPA's Web site at !vv i ••>..• ./,= v'A.w^ call the National
Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD or Safe Drinking Water Act hotline at 1-800-426-4791, or
contact your health care provider.
[Include the name of your system and the date that the information is being distributed, along with the state
water system ID, somewhere on the notice.]
40
-------
Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Public Education Brochure
performance standards for water filters. Be sure
to maintain and replace a filter device in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions
to protect water quality.
6. Get your child tested. Contact your local
health department or healthcare provider to find
out how you can get your child tested for lead, if
you are concerned about exposure.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHAT IS BEING DONE?
[Insert information about how and when the
exceedance was discovered in your
community and provide information on the
source(s) of lead in the drinking water, if
known.]
[Insert information about what your system
is doing to reduce lead levels in homes in
your community.]
[Insert information about the history of lead
levels in tap water samples in your
community. For example, have they declined
substantially over time? Have they been low
and risen recently? Is there a known reason
for any lead level changes?]
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Call us at [Insert Number] or (if applicable) visit
our Web site at [insert Web site Here]. For more
information on reducing lead exposure around
your home/building and the health effects of
lead, visit EPA's Web site at
www.epa.gov/lead, or contact your health care
provider.
[We recommend you include the name of your
system and the date that the information is being
distributed, along with the state water system
ID, somewhere on the notice.]
Lead
in
Dr in kin g
Water
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.
Important Information about Lead in Your
Drinking Water
[Insert name of water system] found elevated
levels of lead in drinking water in some
homes/buildings. Lead can cause serious health
problems, especially for pregnant women and
young children. Please read this information
closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in
your drinking water.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD
Lead can cause serious health problems if too
much enters your body from drinking water or
other sources. It can cause damage to the brain
and kidneys, and can interfere with the
production of red blood cells that carry oxygen
to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of
lead exposure is to infants, young children, and
pregnant women. Scientists have linked the
effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in
children. Adults with kidney problems and high
blood pressure can be affected by low levels of
lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in
the bones and it can be released later in life.
During pregnancy, the child receives lead from
the mother's bones, which may affect brain
development.
SOURCES OF LEAD
Lead is a common metal found in the
environment. Drinking water is one possible
source of lead exposure. The main sources of
lead exposure are lead-based paint and lead-
contaminated dust or soil, and some plumbing
materials. In addition, lead can be found in
certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures,
food, and cosmetics. Other sources include
exposure in the work place and exposure from
certain hobbies (lead can be carried on clothing
or shoes).
New brass faucets, fittings, and valves,
including those advertised as "lead-free," may
contribute lead to drinking water. The law
currently allows end-use brass fixtures, such as
faucets, with up to 8 percent lead to be labeled
as "lead free." However, plumbing fixtures
labeled National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
certified may only have up to 2 percent lead.
Consumers should be aware of this when
choosing fixtures and take appropriate
precautions.
[Insert utility specific information describing your
community's source water - e.g. "The source of
water from XX Reservoir does not contain lead" or
water or water mains in the street."] When water is in
contact with pipes [or service lines], and plumbing
containing lead for several hours, the lead may enter
drinking water. Homes built before 1986 are more
likely to have plumbing containing lead. New homes
may also have lead; even "lead-free" plumbing may
EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of a
person's potential exposure to lead may come
from drinking water. Infants who consume
mostly formula mixed with lead-containing
water can receive 40 to 60 percent of their
exposure to lead from drinking water.
Don't forget about other sources of lead such as
lead paint, lead dust, and lead in soil. Wash your
children's hands and toys often as they can
come into contact with dirt and dust containing
lead.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO REDUCE
YOUR EXPOSURE TO LEAD IN YOUR
WATER
1. Runyour water to flush out lead. Run water
for 15-30 seconds [or insert a different flushing
time if your system has representative data
indicating a different flushing time would better
reduce lead exposure in your
. f community and if the State Primacy
+ Agency approves the wording] or
A until it becomes cold or reaches a
steady temperature before
f using it for drinking or
cooking, if it hasn't been
used for several hours. This
L flushes lead-containing
water from the pipes.
2. Use cold water for cooking
and preparing baby formula.
Do not cook with or drink
water from the hot water tap:
lead dissolves more easily into
hot water. Do not use water
from the hot water tap to make
baby formula.
3. Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling
water will not reduce lead.
4. Look for alternative sources or treatment of
water. You may want to consider - ^
purchasing bottled water or a
water filter. Read the package to
be sure the filter is approved to
reduce lead or contact NSF
International at 800-NSF-8010 or
www.nsf.org for information on
* Customizable versions of these templates are available for download at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/compliancehelp.html
DRAFT FOR REVIEW 41
-------
Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Public Education Poster
wrtant Information about Lead in Your Drinking Water
[Insert name of water system] found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings. Lead can cause serious
health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information closely to see what you can
do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
Health Effects of Lead
Lead can cause serious health problems
if too much enters your body from
drinking water or other sources. It can
cause damage to the brain and kidneys,
and can interfere with the production of
red blood cells that carry oxygen to all
parts of your body. The greatest risk of
lead exposure is to infants, young
children, and pregnant women. Scientists
have linked the effects of lead on the
brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults
with kidney problems and high blood
pressure can be affected by low levels of
lead more than healthy adults. Lead is
stored in the bones and it can be released
later in life. During pregnancy, the child
receives lead from the mother's bones.
which may affect brain development.
Lead is a common metal found in the
environment. Drinking water is one
possible source of lead exposure. The
main sources of lead exposure are lead-
based paint and lead-contaminated dust
or soil, and some plumbing materials. In
addition, lead can be found in certain
types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures,
food, and cosmetics. Other sources
include exposure in the work place and
exposure from certain hobbies (lead can
be carried on clothing or shoes).
New brass faucets, fittings, and valves.
including those advertised as "lead-free,"
may contribute lead to drinking water.
The law currently allows end-use brass
fixtures, such as faucets, with up to 8
percent lead to be labeled as "lead free."
However, plumbing fixtures labeled
National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
certified may only have up to 2 percent
lead. Consumers should be aware of this
when choosing fixtures and take
appropriate precautions.
[Insert utility specific information
describing your community's source
water - e.g. "The source of water from
XX Reservoir does not contain lead" or
"Community X does not have any lead in
its source water or water mains in the
street."] When water is in contact with
pipes [or service lines], and plumbing
containing le ad for s ev eral hours, the
lead may enter drinking water. Homes
built before 1986 are more likely to have
plumbing containing lead. New homes
may also have lead; even "lead-free"
plumbing may contain some lead.
EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of a
person's potential exposure to lead may
come from drinking water. Infants who
consume mostly formula mixed with
lead-containing water can receive 40 to
60 percent of their exposure to lead from
drinking water. Don't forget about other
sources of lead such as lead paint, lead
dust, and lead in soil. Wash your
children's hands and toys often as they
can come into contact with dirt and dust
containing lead.
Steps You Can Take to Reduce
Exoosure to Lead in Water
1. Run your water to flush out lead. Run
water for 15-30 seconds [or insert a
different flushing time if your system has
representative data indicating a different
flushing time would better reduce lead
exposure in your community and if the
State Primacy Agency approves the
wording] or until it becomes cold or
reaches a steady temperature
*^1? before using it for drinking or
r i-' ^ ^ cooking, if it
y^/OgajftV hasn't been used
"•>" for several hours.
This flushes
lead- containing
water from the
pipes.
2. Use cold water for cooking and
preparing baby formula.
Do not cook with or
drink water from the hot
water tap; lead dissolves
more easily into hot
water. Do not use water
from the hot water tap to
make baby formula.
3. Do not boil water to remove lead.
Boiling water will not reduce lead.
4. Look for alternative sources or
treatment of water. You may want to
consider purchasing bottled water or a
water filter. Read the package to be sure
the filter is approved to reduce lead or
contact NSF International at 800-NSF-
8010 or www.nsf.org for
information on
performance standards
for water filters. Be sure
to maintain and replace a
filter device in
accordance with the
manufacturer's
instructions to protect
water quality.
6. Get your child tested. Contact your
local health department or healthcare
provider to find out how you can get
your child tested for lead, if you are
concerned about exposure.
What happened?
What is beins done?
[Insert information about how and when
the exceedance was discovered in your
community and provide information on
the source(s) of lead in the drinking
water, if known.]
[Insert information about what your
system is doing to reduce lead levels in
homes in your community.]
[Insert information about the history of
lead levels in tap water samples in your
community. For example, have they
declined substantially over time? Have
they been low and risen recently? Is there
a known reason for any lead level
changes.]
Call us at [Insert Number] or (if
applicable) visit our Web site at [insert
Web site Here]. For more information on
reducing lead exposure around your
home/building and the health effects of
lead, visit EPA's Web site at
www.epa.gov/lead, or contact your
health care provider.
[We recommend you include the name of
your system and the date that the
information is being distributed, along
with the state water system ID,
somewhere on the notice.]
* Customizable versions of these templates are available for download at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/compliancehelp.html
42
DRAFT FOR REVIEW
-------
Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Dear (Consumer's Name),
As you may know, [Insert name of your facility] is also a public water system because we are responsible for
providing you with water at this location and ensuring that the drinking water we provide to you meets
state and federal standards We collected a drinking water sample for lead at this location on [date]. A lead
level of [insert data from the laboratory analysis of the sample collected-make sure the value is in pbb] was
reported for the sample we collected.
1. We are happy to report that the 90th percentile value for our water system is below the lead action level of
15 parts per billion.
What Does This Mean?
Under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA set the action level for lead in drinking water at
15 ppb. This means utilities must ensure that water from the taps used for human consumption do not
exceed this level in at least 90 percent of the sites sampled (90th percentile value). The action level is the
concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system
must follow. If water from the tap does exceed this limit, then the utility must take certain steps to correct
the problem. Because lead may pose serious health risks, the EPA set a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
(MCLG) of zero for lead. The MCLG is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no
known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
What Are The Health Effects of Lead?
Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can
cause damage to the brain and kidneys, andean interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen
to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women.
Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered/Q in children. Adults with kidney problems
and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones,
and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones, which may
affect brain development.
What Are The Sources of Lead?
The primary sources of lead exposure for most children are deteriorating lead-based paint, lead contaminated
dust, and lead contaminated residential soil. Exposure to lead is a significant health concern, especially
for young children and infants whose growing bodies tend to absorb more lead than the average adult.
Although our facility's lead levels were below the action level, if you are concerned about lead exposure in
your home, parents should ask their health care providers about testing children to determine levels of lead
in their blood.
'Customizable versions of these templates are available for download at: www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/compliancehelp.html
-------
Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
What Can I Do To Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water?
^ Run your water to flush out lead. If water hasn't been used for several hours, run water for 15-30
seconds [or insert a different flushing time if your system has representative data indicating a different
flushing time would better reduce lead exposure in your community and if the State approves the
wording] or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking,.
This flushes lead-containing water from the pipes.
^ Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula.
^ Do not boil water to remove lead.
For More Information
Call us at [insertyour water system's phone number]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around
your home and the health effects of lead, visit EPA's Web site at call the National Lead
Information Center at 800-424-LEAD, or contact your health care provider.
-------
Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Dear (Consumer's Name),
As you may know, [Insert name of your facility] is also a public water system because we are responsible for
providing you with water at this location and ensuring that the drinking water we provide to you meets
state and federal standards We collected a drinking water sample for lead at this location on [date]. A lead
level of [insert data from the laboratory analysis of the sample collected-make sure the value is in pbb] was
reported for the sample we collected.
2, The 90th percentile value for our water system is greater than the lead action level of 15 parts per billion.
What Does This Mean?
Under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA set the action level for lead in drinking water at
15 ppb. This means utilities must ensure that water from the taps used for human consumption do not
exceed this level in at least 90 percent of the sites sampled (90th percentile result). The action level is the
concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system
must follow. If water from the tap does exceed this limit, then the utility must take certain steps to correct
the problem. Because lead may pose serious health risks, the EPA set a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
(MCLG) of zero for lead. The MCLG is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no
known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
We are taking a number of steps to correct the problem. We will begin sampling for lead every 6 months so
we can closely monitor the lead levels in our water system. In addition, we will initiate a Public Education
campaign to ensure that people who drinking water in our facility know about the action level exceedance,
understand the health effects of lead, the sources of lead and actions they can take to reduce exposure to
leads in drinking water. We will also monitor our source water, initiate controls to reduce the corrosivity
of our water (corrosive water can cause lead to leach from plumbing materials that contain lead) and [if
appropriate] initiate lead service line replacement. We strongly urge you to take the steps below to reduce
your exposure to lead in drinking water.
What Are The Health Effects of Lead?
Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can
cause damage to the brain and kidneys, andean interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen
to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women.
Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with loweredIQ in children. Adults with kidney problems
and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones,
and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones, which may
affect brain development. If you are concerned about lead exposure at this facility or in your home, you may
want to ask your health care providers about testing children to determine levels of lead in their blood.
What Are The Sources of Lead?
Although most lead exposure occurs when people eat paint chips and inhale dust, or from contaminated
-------
Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
soil, EPA estimates that 10 to 20 percent of human exposure to lead may come from lead in drinking water.
Lead is rarely found in source water, but enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Buildings
built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. However, new buildings are also at
risk: even legally "lead-free" plumbing may contain up to 8 percent lead. The most common problem is with
brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water,
especially hot water.
What Can I Do To Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water?
^ Run your water to flush out lead. If water hasn't been used for several hours, run water for 15-30
seconds [or insert a different flushing time if your system has representative data indicating a different
flushing time would better reduce lead exposure in your community and if the State approves the
wording] or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking,.
This flushes lead-containing water from the pipes.
^ Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula.
^ Do not boil water to remove lead.
For More Information
Call us at [insertyour water system's phone number]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around
your home and the health effects of lead, visit EPA's Web site at call the National Lead
Information Center at 800-424-LEAD, or contact your health care provider.
-------
DRAFT FOR REVIEW
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Appendix C
Contacts and Additional Resources
FOR
-------
FOR
-------
Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Federal Informational Sources
> EPA's Web site on Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Day Care Centers:
safewater/schools.
^ EPA's Website on Lead in Drinking Water:
> EPA's Web site on Lead:
^ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site on Lead:
> National Lead Information Center Hotline: (800) 424-LEAD
* EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791
State Drinking Water Informational Sources
Alabama
Alabama Department of Environmental
Management, Water Supply Branch
Phone: (334) 271-7700
Web site: www.adem.state.al.us/WaterDivision/
Drinking/DWMainlnfo.htm
Alaska
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation,
Division of Environmental Health, Drinking Water
and Wastewater Program
Phone: (907) 269-7647
Web site: www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/dw/
Arizona
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality,
Drinking Water Section
Phone: (602) 771-2300
Toll-free Phone: (800) 234-5677
Web site: www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/dw/index.
html
Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Health and Human
Services, Division of Engineering
Phone: (501) 661-2623
Web site: http://www.healthyarkansas.com/eng/
index.html
California
California Department of Health Services, Division
of Drinking Water and Environmental Management
Phone: (916)449-5600
Web site: www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/srf/needs_
survey/default, htm
Colorado
Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment, Water Quality Control Division
Phone: (303) 692-3500
Web site: www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/index.html
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Public Health,
Water Supplies Section
Phone: (860) 509-7333
Web site: www.dph.state.ct.us/BRS/Water/DWD.
htm
Delaware
Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of
Public Health, Environmental Evaluation Branch,
Office of Drinking Water
Phone: (302) 741-8630
Web site: www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/
odw.html
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Florida
Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
Drinking Water Section
Phone: (850) 245-8336
Web site: www.dep.state.fl.us/water/drinkingwater/
index.htm
Georgia
Georgia Department of Natural Resources,
Environmental Protection Division,
Water Resource Branch
Phone: (404) 675-6232
Web site: www.gadnr.org/epd/Documents/wpb.
html
Hawaii
Hawaii Department of Health, Environmental
Management Division
Phone: (808) 586-4258
Web site: www.hawaii.gov/health/environmental/
water/sdwb/index.html
Idaho
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality,
Division of Environmental Quality, Drinking Water
Program Phone: (208) 373-0291
Web site: www.deq.idaho.gov/water/prog_issues/
drinking_water/overview. cfm
Illinois
Illinois EPA, Division of Public Water Supplies
Phone: (217) 785-8653
Web site: www.epa.state.il.us/water/
Indiana
Indiana Department of Environmental
Management, Office of Water Management,
Drinking Water Branch
Phone: (317) 232-8670
Web site: www.in.gov/idem/compliance/water/
drinkingwater/compeval/index.html
Iowa
Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
Water Supply Program
Phone: (515)725-0282
Web site: www.iowadnr.com/water/drinking/index.
html
Kansas
Kansas Department of Health and Environment,
Bureau of Water, Public Water Supply Section
Phone: (785) 296-5500
Web site: www.kdheks.gov/pws/
Kentucky
Kentucky Department of Environmental
Protection, Division of Water, Water Supply Branch
Phone: (502) 564-3410 ext. 552
Web site: www.water.ky.gov/dw/
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals,
Office of Public Health, Center for Environmental
and Health Services, Safe Drinking Water Program
Phone: (225) 342-9500
Web site: www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=238
Maine
Maine Department of Human Services,
Drinking Water Services
Phone: (207) 287-2070
Web site: www.maine.gov/dhhs/eng/water/
Maryland
Maryland Department of the Environment,
Water Supply Program
Phone: (410) 537-3702
Web site: www.mde.state.md.us/Programs/
WaterPrograms/Water_Supply/index.asp
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Department of Environment,
Drinking Water Program
Phone: 617-292-5770
Web site: www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking.htm
Michigan
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality,
Drinking Water and Radiological Protection
Division
Phone: (517) 335-4176
Web site: www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-33
13_3675—,00.html
52
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Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health, Drinking Water
Protection Section
Phone: (651) 201-4700
Web site: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/
index.html
Mississippi
Mississippi State Department of Health,
Division of Water Supply
Phone: (601) 576-7518
Web site: www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_
static/44,0,76. html
Missouri
Missouri Department of Natural Resources,
Division of Environmental Quality,
Public Drinking Water Program
Phone: (800) 361-4827
Website: www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/index.html
Montana
Montana Department of Environmental Quality,
Public Water Supply Section
Phone: (406) 444-4400
Web site: www.deq.state.mt.us/wqinfo/pws/index.
asp
Nebraska
Nebraska Department of Health and Human
Services, Environmental Health Services Section,
Public Water Supply Program
Phone: (402) 471-2306
Web site:www.hhs.state.ne.us/enh/pwsindex.htm
Nevada
Nevada Bureau of Health Protection Services,
Division of Environmental Protection,
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water
Phone: (775) 687-9520
Web site: http://ndep.nv.gov/bsdw/index.htm
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Environmental
Services, Land Resource Management Division
Phone: (603) 271-3503
Web site: www.des.state.nh.us/dwspp
New Jersey
New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, Division of Water Supply,
Bureau of Safe Drinking Water
Phone: (609)292-5550
Web site: www.state.nj.us/dep/watersupply/
New Mexico
New Mexico Environmental Department,
Drinking Water Bureau
Phone: (877) 654-8720 (Toll-free)
Web site: www.nmenv.state.nm.us/dwb/dwbtop.
html
New York
New York Department of Health,
Bureau of Public Water Supply Protection
Phone: (800)458-1158
Web site: http://newyorkhealth.gov/nysdoh/water/
main.htm
North Carolina
North Carolina Department of the Environment
and Natural Resources, Public Water Supply Section
Phone: (919)733-2321
Web site: www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/pws/index.htm
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Health,
Drinking Water Program
Phone: (701)328-5211
Web site: www.health.state.nd.us/MF/dw.html
Ohio
Ohio EPA, Division of Drinking and Ground
Waters
Phone: (614) 644-2752
Web site: www.epa.state.oh.us/ddagw/
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality,
Water Quality Division
Phone: (405)702-8100
Web site: www.deq.state.ok.us/WQDNew/
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Oregon Department of Human Services, Health
Division, Drinking Water Program
Phone: (971) 673-0405
Web site: www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/dwp/
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, Bureau of Water Supply and
Wastewater Management
Phone: (717) 787-9637
Web site: www.depweb.state.pa.us/watersupply/
cwp/view.asp?a= 1251 &Q=448745&watersupplyNa
v=|30131|
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Department of Health,
Water Supply Supervision Program
Phone: (787)767-8181
Web site: www.salud.gov.pr/Pages/default.aspx
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Health,
Office of Drinking Water Quality
Phone: (401) 222-6867
Web site: www.health.state.ri.us/environment/dwq/
index.php
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control, Bureau of Water
Phone: (803) 734-5300
Web site: www.scdhec.net/water/html/dwater.html
South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Environment and
Natural Resources
Phone: (605) 773-3754
Web site: www.state.sd.us/DENR/des/drinking/
dwprg.htm
Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation, Division of Water Supply
Phone: (615) 532-0191
Web site: www.state.tn.us/environment/dws/
Texas
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality,
Water Supply Division
Phone: (512) 239-4671
Web site: www.tceq.state.tx.us/nav/util_water/
Utah
Utah Department of Environmental Quality,
Division of Drinking Water
Phone: (801) 536-4200
Web site: www.drinkingwater.utah.gov/
Vermont
Vermont Department of Environmental
Conservation, Water Supply Division
Phone: 802-241-3400
Toll-free: 800-823-6500
Website: www.vermontdrinkingwater.org/
Virginia
Virginia Department of Health,
Office of Drinking Water
Phone: (804) 786-5566
Web site: www.vdh.virginia.gov/DrinkingWater/
Consumer/
Washington, DC
DC Department of Health, Environmental Health
Administration, Water Quality Division
Phone: (202) 535-2190
Web site: http://doh.dc.gov/doh/cwp/
view,a,1374,Q586624,dohNav_GID,1811,.asp
^ EPA Web site on Lead in DC Drinking Water:
http://www.epa.gov/dclead/
Washington
Washington Department of Health,
Division of Drinking Water
Phone: (360) 236-3100
Web site: www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/
West Virginia
West Virginia Department of Health and Human
Services, Environmental Engineering Division
Phone: (304)558-6715
Web site: www.wvdhhr.org/oehs/eed/
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Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,
Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater
Phone: (608) 266-2621
Web site: www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg/
Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality,
Water Quality Division
Phone: (307) 777-7781
Web site: http://wdh.state.wy.us/PHSD/lead/index.
html
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Resources to Locate Organizations in Your Service
Area
For a list of organizations in your service area, waters systems should consult with their local public health
agency first, as they may have lists of the following organizations in your area. However, the Web sites below
have directories where you can input your location to find surrounding organizations.
^ Local Public Health Agencies
Contact your state or local county government
National Association of County and City Health Officials, Local Public Health Agency Index
http://lhadirectory.naccho.org/phdir/
> Public and Private Schools or School Boards
US Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/
^ Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Head Start programs
US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, WIC State Agency Contacts
www.fhs.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/ContactsMenu.HTM
US Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Locator
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/HeadStartOrBces
> Public and Private Hospitals and Medical clinics
Contact your local health agency
^ Pediatricians
American Academy of Pediatrics Referral Service www.aap.org/referral/
American Board of Pediatrics www.abp.org/ABPWebSite/
^- Family Planning Clinics
Contact your local health agency
^ Local Welfare Agencies
Contact your local health agency
> Licensed childcare centers
National Child Care Association www.nccanet.org/search_members.asp
^ Public and private preschools
US Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/
^ Obstetricians-Gynecologists and Midwives
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Physician Lookup
www.acog.org/member-lookup/
American College of Nurse-Midwives www.midwife.org/find.cfm
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Regulatory Publications
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 (72 FR 57782, October 10, 2007). This Federal Register Notice and further information is available
at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/index.html.
Guidance Documents
"Lead and Copper Rule: A Quick Reference Guide for Schools and Child Care Facilities that are
Regulated Under the Safe Drinking Water Act." US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water,
Washington, DC. October 2005, EPA 816-F-05-030. This document is available at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/schools/.
"Lead and Copper Rule: A Quick Reference Guide." US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water,
Washington, DC. March 2004, EPA 816-F-04-009. This document is available at
http: //www. epa. gov/safewater/lcrmr/.
"Lead in Drinking Water Regulation: Public Education Guidance." US Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Water, Washington, DC. June 2002, EPA 816-R-02-010. This document is available at
http: //www. epa. gov/safewater/lcrmr/.
"Lead and Copper Monitoring and Reporting Guidance for Public Water Systems." US
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. February 2002, EPA
816-R-02-009. This document is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/.
"How to Determine Compliance with Optimal Water Quality Parameters as Revised by the Lead and
Copper Rule Minor Revisions." US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
February 2001, EPA 815-R-99-019. This document is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/.
"Lead and Copper Rule: Summary of Revisions." US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Drinking
Water, Washington, DC. April 2000, EPA-815-R-99-020. This document is available at
http: //www. epa. gov/safewater/lcrmr/.
Public Information and Fact Sheets
"Water Health Series: Filtration Facts." US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington,
DC. September 2005, 816-K-05-002. This document is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/.
"Is There Lead in my Drinking Water?" US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington,
DC. February 2005, EPA 816-F-05-001. This document is available in English and Spanish at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead/leadfactsheet.html.
"Controlling Lead in Drinking Water for Schools and Day Care Facilities: A Summary of State Programs."
US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. July 2004, EPA-810-R-04-001.
This document is available at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/.
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"Tap Into Prevention: Drinking Water Information for Health Care Providers." US Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. August 2004, EPA 816-C-04-001. This video is
available in DVD and VHS format at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/healthcare/index.html.
"Water on Tap: What you Need to Know." US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Water, Washington, DC. October 2003, EPA 816-K-03-007. This document is available in English,
Spanish and Chinese at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/index.html.
"Is There Lead in the Drinking Water?: You Can Reduce the Risk of Lead Exposure from Drinking Water in
Educational Facilities" US Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Water, Washington DC. April 2002, 903-FO1-002. This document is available at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead/.
"Drinking Water from Household Wells." US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water,
Washington, DC. January 2002, EPA 816-K-02-003. This document is available at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/booklet/index.html.
"Comprehensive Lead and Copper Rule Training." US Environmental Protection Agency, Drinking Water
Academy, Washington, DC. January 2001. This presentation is available at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/.
"Children and Drinking Water Standards." US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water,
Washington, DC. December 1999, 815-K-99-001. This document is available at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/kidshealth/.
"Drinking Water and Health: What You Need to Know!" US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Water, Washington, DC. October 1999, EPA 816-K-99-001. This document is available in English and
Spanish at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwh/index.html.
"Lead and Your Drinking Water: Actions You Can Take to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water." US
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC. June 1993, EPA 810-F-93-001.
This document is available in English and Spanish at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/Pubs/leadl.html.
CDC Publications
"Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children." Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, Atlanta, GA. August 2005. This document is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/pub_Reas.htm.
"Managing Elevated Blood Lead Levels Among Young Children: Recommendations from the Advisory
Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention." Center for Disease Control and Prevention,
Atlanta, GA. March 2002. This document is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/CaseManagement/caseManage_main.htm.
"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 http://www.cdc.
gov/nceh/lead/guide/guide97.htm.
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Additional Publications
"Assisting Schools and Child Care Facilities in Addressing Lead in Drinking Water." American Water Works
Association, Denver, CO. 2005. This document is available at http://www.awwa.org/Publications/index.
cfm?navItemNumber= 1418.
FOR
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
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Appendix D
Lead and Copper Rule Public
Education Requirements—
Federal Regulatory Language
FOR
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FOR
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Lead and Copper Rule Short-Term Revisions and
Clarifications that Relate to Public Education
Requirements
" •"" .•'-
All water systems must deliver a consumer notice of lead tap water monitoring results to persons served by
the water system at sites that are tested, as specified in paragraph (d) of this section. 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 paragraph (a) of this section in accordance with the requirements
in paragraph (b) of this section. Water systems that exceed the lead action level must sample the tap water of
any customer who requests it in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.
(a) Content of written public education materials.
(1) Community water systems and Non-transient non-community water systems. Water systems must
include the following elements in printed materials (e.g., brochures and pamphlets) in the same order as
listed below. In addition, paragraphs (a)(l)(i) through (ii) and (a)(l)(vi) must be included in the materials,
exactly as written, except for the text in brackets in these paragraphs for which the water system must
include system-specific information. Any additional information presented by a water system must be
consistent with the information below and be in plain language that can be understood by the general
public. Water systems must submit all written public education materials to the State prior to delivery.
The State may require the system to obtain approval of the content of written public materials prior to
delivery.
(i) IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER [INSERT
NAME OF WATER SYSTEM] found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings.
Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read
this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water.
(ii) Health effects of lead. Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from
drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with
the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead
exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Scientists have linked the effects of lead
on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be
affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults. Lead is stored in the bones, and it can be released
later in life. During pregnancy, the child receives lead from the mother's bones, which may affect brain
development.
(iii) Sources of Lead.
(A) Explain what lead is.
(B) Explain possible sources of lead in drinking water and how lead enters drinking water. Include
information on home/building plumbing materials and service lines that may contain lead.
(C) Discuss other important sources of lead exposure in addition to drinking water (e.g., paint).
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
(iv) Discuss the steps the consumer can take to reduce their exposure to lead in drinking water.
(A) Encourage running the water to flush out the lead.
(B) Explain concerns with using hot water from the tap and specifically caution against the use of
hot water for preparing baby formula.
(C) Explain that boiling water does not reduce lead levels.
(D) Discuss other options consumers can take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, such as
alternative sources or treatment of water.
(E) Suggest that parents have their child's blood tested for lead.
(v) Explain why there are elevated levels of lead in the system's drinking water (if known) and what the
water system is doing to reduce the lead levels in homes/buildings in this area.
(vi) For more information, call us at [INSERT YOUR NUMBER] [(IF APPLICABLE), or visit our Web
site at [INSERT YOUR WEB SITE HERE]]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around
your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/lead or
contact your health care provider.
(2) Community water systems. In addition to including the elements specified in paragraph (a)(l) of this
section, community water systems must:
(i) Tell consumers how to get their water tested.
(ii) Discuss lead in plumbing components and the difference between low lead and lead free.
(b) Delivery of public education materials.
(1) For public water systems serving a large proportion of non-English speaking consumers, as determined
by the State, the public education materials must contain information in the appropriate language(s)
regarding the importance of the notice or contain a telephone number or address where persons served
may contact the water system to obtain a translated copy of the public education materials or to request
assistance in the appropriate language.
(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 conducting public education tasks under this
section, must conduct the public education tasks under this section within 60 days after the end of the
monitoring period in which the exceedance occurred:
(i) Deliver printed materials meeting the content requirements of paragraph (a) of this section to all
bill paying customers.
(ii) (A) Contact customers who are most at risk by delivering education materials that meet the
content requirements of paragraph (a) of this section to local public health agencies even
if they are not located within the water system's service area, along with a cover letter
that encourages distribution to all the organization's potentially affected customers or community
water system's users. The water system must contact the local public health agencies directly by
phone or in person. The local public health agencies may provide a specific list of additional
community based organizations serving target populations, which may include organizations outside
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Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision of the LCR:
A Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
the service area of the water system. If such lists are provided, systems must deliver education
materials that meet the content requirements of paragraph (a) of this section to all organizations on
the provided lists.
(B) Contact customers who are most at risk by delivering materials that meet the content
requirements of paragraph (a) of this section to the following organizations listed in 1 through 6
that are located within the water system's service area, along with a cover letter that encourages
distribution to all the organization's potentially affected customers or community water system's
users:
(1) Public and private schools or school boards.
(2) Women Infants and Children (WIC) and Head Start programs.
(3) Public and private hospitals and medical clinics.
(4) Pediatricians.
(5) Family planning clinics.
(6) Local welfare agencies.
(C) Make a good faith effort to locate the following organizations within the service area and deliver
materials that meet the content requirements of paragraph (a) of this section to them, along with an
informational notice that encourages distribution to all potentially affected customers or users. The
good faith effort to contact at-risk customers may include requesting a specific contact list of these
organizations from the local public health agencies, even if the agencies are not located within the
water system's service area:
(1) Licensed childcare centers
(2) Public and private preschools.
(3) Obstetricians-Gynecologists and Midwives.
(iii) No less often than quarterly, provide information on or in each water bill as long as the system
exceeds the action level for lead. The message on the water bill must include the following statement
exactly as written except for the text in brackets for which the water system must include system-specific
information: [INSERT NAME OF WATER SYSTEM] found high levels of lead in drinking water
in some homes. Lead can cause serious health problems. For more information please call [INSERT
NAME OF WATER SYSTEM] [or visit (INSERT YOUR WEB SITE HERE)]. The message or delivery
mechanism can be modified in consultation with the State; specifically, the State may allow a separate
mailing of public education materials to customers if the water system cannot place the information on
water bills.
(iv) Post material meeting the content requirements of paragraph (a) of this section on the water system's
Web site if the system serves a population greater than 100,000.
(v) Submit a press release to newspaper, television and radio stations.
(vi) In addition to paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (v) of this section, systems must implement at least
three activities from one or more categories listed below. The educational content and selection of these
activities must be determined in consultation with the State.
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(A) Public Service Announcements.
(B) Paid advertisements.
(C) Public Area Information Displays.
(D) Emails to customers.
(E) Public Meetings.
(F) Household Deliveries.
(G) Targeted Individual Customer Contact.
(H) Direct material distribution to all multi-family homes and institutions.
(I) Other methods approved by the State.
(vii) For systems that are required to conduct monitoring annually or less frequently, the end of the
monitoring period is September 30 of the calendar year in which the sampling occurs, or, if the State has
established an alternate monitoring period, the last day of that period.
(3) As long as a community water system exceeds the action level, it must repeat the activities pursuant to
paragraph (b)(2) of this section as described in paragraphs (b)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section.
A community water system shall repeat the tasks contained in paragraphs (b)(2)(i), (ii) and (vi) of this
section every 12 months.
A community water system shall repeat tasks contained in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section with each
billing cycle.
A community water system serving a population greater than 100,000 shall post and retain material on a
publicly accessible Web site pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section.
The community water system shall repeat the task in paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section twice every 12
months on a schedule agreed upon with the State. The State can allow activities in paragraph (b)(2) of this
section to extend beyond the 60-day requirement if needed for implementation purposes on a case-by-case
basis; however, this extension must be approved in writing by the State in advance of the 60-day deadline.
(4) Within 60 days after the end of the monitoring period in which the exceedance occurred (unless it
already is repeating public education tasks pursuant to paragraph (b)(5) of this section), a non-transient
non-community water system shall deliver the public education materials specified by paragraph (a) of this
section as follows:
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
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.
For systems that are required to conduct monitoring annually or less frequently, the end of the monitoring
period is September 30 of the calendar year in which the sampling occurs, or, if the State has established an
alternate monitoring period, the last day of that period.
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(5) A non-transient non-community water system shall repeat the tasks contained in paragraph (b)(4) of
this section at least once during each calendar year in which the system exceeds the lead action level. The
State can allow activities in (b)(4) of this section to extend beyond the 60-day requirement if needed for
implementation purposes on a case-by-case basis; however, this extension must be approved in writing by
the State in advance of the 60-day deadline.
(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.
(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 only the text specified in paragraph (a)(l) of this section in lieu
of the text in paragraphs (a)(l) and (a) (2) of this section and to perform the tasks listed in paragraphs (b)
(4) and (b)(5) of this section in lieu of the tasks in paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(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.
(8) A community water system serving 3,300 or fewer people may limit certain aspects of their public
education programs as follows:
With respect to the requirements of paragraph (b)(2)(vi) of this section, a system serving 3,300 or fewer
must implement at least one of the activities listed in that paragraph.
With respect to the requirements of paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section, a system serving 3,300 or fewer
people may limit the distribution of the public education materials required under that paragraph to
facilities and organizations served by the system that are most likely to be visited regularly by pregnant
women and children.
With respect to the requirements of paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section, the State may waive this
requirement for systems serving 3,300 or fewer persons as long as system distributes notices to every
household served by the system.
(c) 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.
(d) Notification of results.
(1) Reporting requirement. All water systems must provide a notice of the individual tap results from lead
tap water monitoring carried out under the requirements of §141.86 to the persons served by the water
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system at the specific sampling site from which the sample was taken (e.g., the occupants of the residence
where the tap was tested).
(2) Timing of notification. A water system must provide the consumer notice as soon as practical, but no
later than 30 days after the system learns of the tap monitoring results.
(3) Content. The consumer notice must include the results of lead tap water monitoring for the tap that
was tested, an explanation of the health effects of lead, list steps consumers can take to reduce exposure
to lead in drinking water and contact information for the water utility. The notice must also provide the
maximum contaminant level goal and the action level for lead and the definitions for these two terms from
§!4l.l53(c).
(4) Delivery. The consumer notice must be provided to persons served at the tap that was tested, either
by mail or by another method approved by the State. For example, upon approval by the State, a non-
transient non-community water system could post the results on a bulletin board in the facility to allow
users to review the information. The system must provide the notice to customers at sample taps tested,
including consumers who do not receive water bills.
Lead and Copper Rule Short-Term Revisions and
Clarifications that Relate to Consumer Confidence
Reports (CCR)
;:' ' '
Every report must include the following lead-specific information:
(1) A short informational statement about lead in drinking water and its effects on children. The
statement must include the following information:
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and
young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with
service lines and home plumbing. [NAME OF UTILITY] is responsible for providing high quality
drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your
water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your
tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about
lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing
methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
(2) A system may write its own educational statement, but only in consultation with the State.
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Appendix E
Lead and Copper NTNCWS
Public Education Fact Sheet
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