EPA Proposes Revisions To Lead And Copper Rule

On December 6, 2023, EPA published a proposal to revise the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for lead and copper under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The proposal would apply to public water systems, including community water systems and non-transient, non-community water systems, and would require affected systems to replace all lead service lines and certain galvanized service lines within ten years. As part of this effort, EPA would require affected systems to track lead connectors in their inventories and replace them whenever encountered. EPA is also proposing to lower the lead action level to 10 parts per billion (or 10 µg/L) and would require systems that exceed the lead action level three or more times in a five-year period to take certain actions to provide public education and make water filters available to consumers. In addition, EPA is proposing to update its tap water sampling protocol to require affected systems to collect first-liter and