The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on June 15 it is delaying again the effective date of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR).
The effective date of the LCRR, which was published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2021, is now being delayed until December 16, 2021. The EPA is also delaying the January 16, 2024, compliance date established in the LCRR to October 16, 2024.
Residential household water well systems are not affected by the rule.
The delay in the effective date is consistent with presidential directives issued on January 20, 2021, to the heads of federal agencies to review certain regulations, including the LCRR. The hope is the delay will allow sufficient time for the EPA to complete its review of the rule in accordance with those directives and conduct important consultations with affected parties.
The delay in the compliance date of the LCRR ensures that any delay in the effective date will not reduce the time provided for drinking water systems and primacy states to take actions needed to assure compliance with the LCRR.
It should be noted that of all community water system LCRR violations, nearly 80 percent have been at small groundwater-supplied public water systems.
Click here to read the announcement in the Federal Register.