Background and Major Changes
On December 16, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced final revisions to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for lead and copper under the Safe Drinking Water Act. These revisions, known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) aimed to identify the most at-risk communities and ensure water systems have plans in place to rapidly respond by taking actions to reduce elevated levels of lead in drinking water.
Subsequently, EPA reviewed the LCRR and found significant opportunities to improve it. On November 30, 2023, the EPA proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) to address these changes. EPA announced the final LCRI on October 8, 2024. The LCRI introduces more stringent requirements to reduce lead exposure and improve public communication. Notably, it:
- Mandates lead service line replacements regardless of 90th percentile exceedances: For the first time, most water systems must replace lead service lines within 10 years.
- Requires updated service line inventories (SLIs): Water systems must regularly update their inventories and develop replacement plans that prioritize vulnerable and disproportionately affected communities.
- Improves sampling protocols: Systems must collect both first-liter and fifth-liter samples from sites with lead service lines, using the higher result for the 90th percentile calculation.
- Lowers the lead action level from 15 ppb to 10 ppb, requiring earlier intervention.
- Expands response obligations: Systems with repeated exceedances must continue optimizing treatment, enhance public outreach, and provide lead-reducing filters to consumers.
- Enhances public communication: Consumer Confidence Reports must now include clear, health-focused language about the dangers of lead exposure and information about pipe locations and replacement plans.
Health impacts of lead are severe. It is a toxic metal that damages brain development in children, impairs kidney function in adults, and disrupts red blood cell production. The LCRI represents a major step toward reducing these risks by accelerating the removal of lead from U.S. drinking water systems.
Information for Consumers
While the LCRI is upcoming, Massachusetts Consumers can learn more about the current rule (the LCRR) and its requirements, by visiting the MassDEP Consumer's Frequently Asked Questions about the LCRR Service Line Inventory Webpage.
MassDEP has created an interactive map with PWS's initial Service Line Inventory (SLI) Submissions for public viewing. These SLIs will continue to be updated and improved as they are resubmitted as Baseline SLIs under the LCRI. The Massachusetts Service Line Inventory is available here: Massachusetts Service Line Inventories Hub Site
Information for Public Water Systems
All applicable forms and templates for the LCRI will be uploaded to the Lead & Copper Forms & Templates webpage when created. Notification of the release of these tools, forms, and templates will be provided to systems through the In The Main Newsletter and targeted emails.
Materials to assist systems with meeting LCRI requirements are available below, and new materials are added as they are released.
LCRI Materials
- Preparing for Non Lead Validations
- Statistical (Predictive) Modeling Guidance for Evaluating Unknown Service Lines
LCRR Materials, Still Relevant to the LCRI Requirements
There are many LCRR Guidance documents and factsheets which are still relevant to preparing for the LCRI. See the LCRR Webpage for all guidance documents available.
Funding Opportunities for PWS to Address Lead
Massachusetts Free Water-Smart Pilot Program for Public Water Systems
Beginning in November 2027, all community water systems will have to offer lead testing to at least 20% of the elementary schools and 20% of the childcare facilities in their service area each year until all such facilities have the opportunity to be tested, except for those schools and childcare facilities that were either constructed or had full plumbing replacement on or after January 1, 2014, and are not served by a lead service line, galvanized requiring replacement service line, or a service line of unknown material. PWS must ensure that all such facilities are initially offered testing within 5 years. To assist PWS and to support lead in school testing, MassDEP launched a FREE testing pilot program for PWS to test schools and childcare facilities ahead of these federal requirements. This pilot program includes:
- Facility mapping
- Laboratory testing
- Technical assistance, and
- Notification and results dissemination
For more information about this Pilot Program please contact program.director-dwp@mass.gov. Subject: Water-Smart Pilot Program for PWS.
LCRI Waiver for Lead Testing in Schools and Childcare Facilities
Starting in November 2027, PWS may receive a full or partial written waiver from MassDEP to exempt them from the school and childcare facility sampling requirements of the LCRI if they participate in the Pilot Program or have a lead in schools and childcare facilities sampling program that meets the LCRI waiver requirements. To be considered for a waiver, complete and submit the Lead Testing Waiver Application for Schools and Childcare Facilities.