Learn About Lead and SERA
B	United States
Copper Rule Compliance i™n,alPro,ection
In 1991, the EPA published the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) which aims to reduce lead and copper in
drinking water. The rule applies to about 67,000 water systems which serve over 300 million people.

Since the promulgation of the Lead and Copper Rule, the number of the nation's
largest drinking water systems (i.e. those serving over 50,000) with action level
exceedances has decreased by over 90%.
The EPA requires water systems to test for lead and copper at the tap in certain homes, primarily
those with iead service lines, which are expected to have higher lead concentrations. Systems compare
sample results from these homes to the EPA's action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) for lead and 1.3
mg/L (1,300 ppb) for copper. If 10 percent of the samples from these homes have water
concentrations that are greater than the action level, then the system must perform actions such as
public education and lead service iine replacement.
To learn more about sources of lead and health effects, and ways you can help
improve water quality in your home, see the EPA's Basic Information for Lead
in Drinking Water Page.
Also see EPA's Sources of Lead in Drinking Water Infooraphic.
Sources of LEAD
in Drinking Water
Lead is not naturally found in water. Lead from lead
pipes, faucets, and fixtures can dissolve into water
or sometimes can enter as flakes or small particles.
Did You Know?
Over 95%
of systems from across the country
have not reported an action level
exceedance in the last three years.
Important IMote: Data in this factsheet is up to date as of quarter 2 of Fiscal Year 2019. Updates to this data can be found in the
Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) online federal reports. Please note, systems have different monitoring schedules,
so new data may not necessarily be available annually.
Learn More:
See the EPA resources on the LCR
View more lead and copper compliance data
EPA Office of Water
EPA 815 F 19 007
October 2019

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