For informational purposes and/or media only

v>EPA

Large City, USA

Understanding How the New Lead and Copper Rule
Reduces Lead in Your City

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: 2/300/000
Number of Schools and Childcares in the City: 6,800
Number of Residences in the City: 595/000
10 Number of Residences with Lead Service Lines: 69,000



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

2,070

0-966

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.

0 months

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

6 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 Large City, USA.

For more information visit:

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

lead-and-copper-rule

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