EPA Revises Drinking Water Rule for Lead
On Sept. 26, EPA announced a final rule that makes several revisions
to the national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper.
The purpose of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) is to protect public
water system consumers from exposure to lead and copper in drinking
water. Agency officials said the revisions to the LCR will:
- enhance implementation in the areas of monitoring, treatment, customer awareness and lead service-line replacement.
- improve compliance with the public education requirements and
ensure drinking water consumers receive meaningful, timely, and useful
information needed to help them limit their exposure to lead in
drinking water.
"The public must have confidence in the safety of their tap water,
which is, ounce-for-ounce, one of America's greatest and most
affordable assets," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's assistant
administrator for water. "EPA's targeted improvements will clarify
requirements for utilities and provide more timely and useful
information for the public."
The final rule is one outcome of EPA's March 2005 Drinking Water
Lead Reduction Plan, which arose from EPA's analysis of the current
regulation and state and local implementation. Since the development of
the plan, the agency has released guidance to help public water systems
better understand the potential impacts of treatment changes on their
ability to control lead. EP also asked the National Drinking Water
Advisory Council to provide recommendations on public education
requirements. The agency has provided new or updated guidance and tools
to help schools and child care facilities monitor for lead in drinking
water.
Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in
products found in and around homes. Even at low levels, lead may cause
a range of health effects, including behavioral problems and learning
disabilities.