The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published final regulatory revisions to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for lead and copper under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) on January 15. The effective date is March 16.
Residential household water well systems are not affected by the rule.
These revised requirements provide greater and more effective protection of public health by reducing exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. The rule will better identify high levels of lead, improve the reliability of lead tap sampling results, strengthen corrosion control treatment requirements, expand consumer awareness, and improve risk communication.
For the first time, this final rule requires community water systems to conduct lead-in-drinking-water testing and public education in schools and childcare facilities. In addition, the rule will accelerate lead service line replacements (LSLRs).
The four options for small water systems are:
- Replace seven percent of their baseline number of LSLs per year until all LSLs are replaced
- Optimize existing corrosion control treatment or install new corrosion control treatment
- Provide point-of-use devices to all customers
- Community water systems and nontransient water systems that do not have LSLs and have control of all the plumbing materials in their system may choose to replace all lead-bearing plumbing on a schedule specified by the state and not to exceed one year.
Plan components like the strategy to investigate the material of lead status unknown service lines, identify potential LSLR funding, and having procedures established for LSLR have the potential to significantly reduce the investigation burden small systems choosing a LSLR compliance path would face after exceeding the action level and ensure fast implementation.
Click here to read the final rule.