Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) to protect children and communities from the risks of lead exposure. EPA aims to get the lead out of the drinking water and empower communities through the correct information. According to the recent revision, the new rules includes the following improvements:

• Science-based testing protocols to be used to find sources of lead in drinking water
• Schools and child care facilities are required to be tested for the first time
• Establish a trigger level to jumpstart mitigation and in more communities
• Drive more and complete lead service line replacements
• Require water systems to identify and make the locations of lead service lines public

EPA has been aggressively working to reduce the risk of lead exposure in drinking water and started hosting virtual meetings from April 2021. The revisions in the LCR represent the next step in the EPA’s effort to review and ensure that it protects families and communities, particularly those who got impacted by lead impurities in drinking water.

It also ensures the continuity of the virtual engagements, and gathers valuable information from the impacted communities, and seeks feedback from national water associations, Tribes and Tribal communities and EPA’s state co-regulators.

Mandatory Timelines

Effective date: This final rule is going to be effective from December 16, 2021.

Postponed Effective Date: Previously, the effective date of the final rule was published on January 15, 2021, and then delayed in a rule published March 12, 2021, which is now further postponed until December 16, 2021.

Compliance Date: The compliance date for the final rule is delayed until October 16, 2024.

In a nutshell, the U.S. EPA intends to strengthen the implementation of the LCR, strengthen its public health protections, and clarify the implementation requirements to make it more effective and more readily enforceable. Organizations under the water transfer and plumbing materials sector are the most affected by this revised regulation. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate your preparedness for compliance. Reach out to Freyr - a regional Regulatory expert; stay informed, and stay updated.