For informational purposes and/or media only

v>EPA

Hometown, USA

Understanding How the New Lead and Copper Rule Reduces Lead

in Your Community

EPA's new Lead and Copper Rule requires water systems to remove more lead service lines—
a root source of lead in drinking water—than the previous rule. The below illustrates how
the new rule compels actions sooner, removes lines faster and requires actions that better

identify sources of lead.

Estimated Population: 1 0/000 — 50/000
Number of Schools and Childcares in the Town: 30-140
Number of Homes in the Town: 3,200 -13,500
10 Number of Homes with Lead Service Lines: 1,200-1,500



New Rule

Old Rule

% of Schools and Childcares required to be tested for lead

20% every year

0%

% of Lead Service Lines that will be fully inventoried

100%

0%

If the Trigger Level of 10 ppb is exceeded

% of lines that are required to be fully replaced annually

Goal Set by State
and System

0%

If the Action Level of 15 ppb is exceeded

% of lines that are required to be fully replaced annually

3%

0%

Allows partial replacements and test outs

Number of LSL that will actually be replaced each year

Population: 10,000

36

0-17

Population: 50,000

45

0-21

Most systems above the AL did not start LSLR programs
and those that did, often did not achieve 7% actual
replacement in any year due to test-outs; the program
could stop after 1 year of samples below 15 ppb.

Length of time system can delay removing LSL



0 months

System must already be prepared and have
plans in place to start right away.

48 months

Systems may delay while preparing and may stop
completely if lead levels go below 15 ppb for one
year. Studies could result in even more delays. The
system may never replace a LSL.

Assumes that there are no state requirements beyond the Federal LCR that apply to Hometown, USA.

For more information visit:

https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-
water/final-revisions-lead-and-copper-rule


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