Background and Major Changes
All community (COM) and non-transient non-community (NTNC) public water systems in Massachusetts required to comply with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) are required to comply with the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) as of October 16, 2024.
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 authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act - called the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). The LCRR was proposed to identify the most at-risk communities and ensure systems have plans in place to rapidly respond by taking actions to reduce elevated levels of lead in drinking water.
In 2024, the EPA released a new revision to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper under authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, called the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), the final version of the LCRI was released October 2024, and will require COM and NTNCs to be compliant by November 1, 2027. With this new rule, many of the LCRR requirements were paused, except for the following:
- The submission of an initial Service Line Inventory (SLI) by October 16, 2024,
- The annual distribution of Service Line Material Consumer Notices (CN) to all consumers served by a Lead, Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR), or Lead Status Unknown service line, and
- Distribution of a Tier 1 Public Notice within 24 hours of learning of a lead action level exceedance.
More information on the LCRR is available on the EPA LCRR Webpage.
More information on the LCRI is available on the EPA LCRI Webpage and the MassDEP DWP LCRI Webpage.
Information for Massachusetts Consumers
Massachusetts Consumers can learn more about the LCRR and it's requirements, such as the Service Line Inventory and how consumers will be notified if served by a service line that contains or may contain lead by visiting the MassDEP Consumer's Frequently Asked Questions about the LCRR Service Line Inventory Webpage.
MassDEP has created an interactive map with Public Water System's Service Line Inventory (SLI) Submissions for public viewing. SLIs will be available as they are reviewed by MassDEP. For questions on your Public Water System SLI, this Map also contains the contact person for your system. The Massachusetts Service Line Inventory is available here: Massachusetts Service Line Inventories Hub Site
For summary statistics of how many Non Lead, Unknown, Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR) and Lead service lines, see the Service Line Inventory Summary Sheet.
Information for Public Water Systems
LCRR Service Line Inventory and Replacement Plan Templates
You can find templates and instructions for the development of LCRR Service Line Inventories and Replacement Plans on the Lead & Copper Forms & Templates webpage. The compliance date for the Service Line Inventory was October 16, 2024.
Important LCRR Materials
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)
- Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR): Upcoming Deadlines
- Lead & Copper Rule (LCR) and Lead & Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) Links of Interest
- How to Handle Customer-Requested Lead Water Samples
Guidance Documents on How to Submit Your Service Line Inventory
- Service Line Inventory Immediate Requirements Flowchart
- How to Submit your Initial Service Line Inventory Guidance
- Lessons Learned - Common Service Line Inventory Validation Errors Found
Service Line Identification Guidance Documents
MassDEP Drinking Water Program’s guides on how to identify a service line, what to include in your Service Line Inventory, and how to include unique service line configurations in your Service Line Inventory Workbook.
- LCRR Service Line Identification Guidance
- LCRR NTNC and Small COM PWS Service Line Identification Guidance
Service Line Verification Method Guidance Documents
- Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR): In-Pipe Verification Methods Guidance
- Statistical (Predictive) Modeling Guidance for Evaluating Unknown Service Lines
- Guidance: Predictive/Statistical Modeling Flowchart
Guidance Documents Regarding Requirements After Your Service Line Inventory is Submitted
- Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) Requirements for “Lead Status Unknown” Service Lines
- Guidance: How PWS can make their Service Line Inventories Accessible to the Public
- If the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) is not published prior to October 16, 2024, public water systems may be required to begin standard (semiannual) monitoring by January 2025. See the Monitoring Frequency Guide for Systems Subject to the LCRR for more information.
- Preparing for Non Lead Validations
MassDEP LCRR Tools & Toolkits for Service Line Inventory Work
MassDEP developed a "crowdsourcing application" (hereafter referred to as "the App") to assist both consumers and PWS to identify lead service lines. The App is a web-based tool for consumers to assist in the identification of lead service lines. No downloading of software is required. The App is a collection of Smartsheet forms, sheets, and workflow automations that allow your customers to submit photos of their service line for identification purposes. This can be helpful for PWS in compiling their line inventories and in prioritizing lead service line replacements. See Instructions for Using the App.
Under the LCRR, all COM and NTNC systems were required to submit a service line inventory by October 16, 2024. To help these systems develop their inventories and encourage community involvement, the MassDEP Drinking Water Program developed an outreach toolkit that contains posters, infographics, social media images and other tools.
Customer Infographics
- How to Identify Service Line Materials: An Infographic for Customers (English)
- Como Identificar Los Materiales de la Linea de Servicio: Infografia Para Clientes (Espanol)
LCRR Service Line Inventory Press and Media Toolkit
This Toolkit is a compilation of materials that can be shared digitally (social media), physically (flyers) and through broadcasting (a slide deck) to your community, to interest your community into helping local public water suppliers to identify service lines in their service area.
- LCRR Service Line Inventory Press and Media Toolkit
- PowerPoint Presentation of LCRR Service Line Inventory Press and Media Toolkit
Past Communications to Public Water Suppliers
- Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) Service Line Inventory (SLI) Compliance Plan Survey Form
- Getting Ready for the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions: Service Line Inventories
- LCRR Lead Service Line Inventories: An Infographic
- MassDEP Drinking Water Program Tools for Getting Ready for the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
Funding Opportunities for PWS to Address Lead
Service Lines Inventory and Replacement Plan Grant Program
MassDEP is accepting Lead Service Lines planning grant applications, on a rolling basis, while funding is available.
Eligible activities for these planning programs include:
- Service Line Inventory - Completing a comprehensive Service Line Inventory for both public and private portions that will be made publicly available. This comprehensive inventory project could include activities such as inspecting physical service lines, compiling paper records, initiating a consumer lead service line identification program, but must include submitting the complete inventory to MassDEP in a digital format specified by MassDEP or in an alternate format approved by MassDEP that can be readily compiled into the MassDEP data system.
- Lead Service Line Replacement Program - Preparing a Lead Service Line replacement program for the PWS that complies with the LCRR. PWS’ lead service line replacement plans need to incorporate the MassDEP public health protection goal by planning to replace all lead service lines in 5 years or as soon as possible.
- Use of the MassDEP-provided tools will ensure the submission of a service line inventory and lead service line replacement program summary in a digital form acceptable to MassDEP.
Assistance for Small Community Water Systems and Non-Transient Non-Community Systems - Lead Service Line Planning Program
This program is currently not accepting new applications, as the SLI Submission deadline has passed. Thank you to all systems who participated.
This program is available for PWS serving a population of less than 10,000. MassDEP will use the $1.3 million of the set-asides from the DWSRF Lead Service Line Grant to contract with a qualified technical assistance provider to complete eligible planning projects working with the PWS.
Small PWS must notify MassDEP of their interest in this technical assistance and provide an update on how they are preparing for the LCRR requirements by submitting the MassDEP Service Line Inventory and Lead Service Line Replacement Plan Technical Assistance Survey. PWS will be contacted, and technical assistance will be provided virtually or in person, depending on need and resources.
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 are given the opportunity to test, 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 service line of unknown material. PWS must ensure that all such facilities are 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,
- 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.
MassDEP Past Trainings
Video: Service Line Inventories & Upcoming Requirements for Lead and Copper Rule Revisions - 10/9/2024
Skip this video Service Line Inventories & Upcoming Requirements for Lead and Copper Rule Revisions - 10/9/2024.Video: Lead and Copper Rule Upcoming Requirements 2024 Training
Skip this video Lead and Copper Rule Upcoming Requirements 2024 Training.Video: Upcoming Lead and Copper Rule Revisions: Lead Service Line Inventories
Skip this video Upcoming Lead and Copper Rule Revisions: Lead Service Line Inventories.Video: LCRR Service Line Inventory Tool Training for PWS
Skip this video LCRR Service Line Inventory Tool Training for PWS.Related Links
- EPA's Guidance for Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory
- EPA's Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory: Small Entity Compliance
- EPA's Lead Service Line Inventory Template (Note, EPA's version of the inventory template will not be accepted by Massachusetts. We are providing it here for reference only. Massachusetts PWS are expected to use the Service Line Inventory Excel Workbook provided by MassDEP.)
- EPA's LCRR Website
- EPA's "Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead"
- Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan
- EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Website
- EPA's BIL SRF Implementation Memo
- EPA News Release on Lead Service Line Inventory Guidance
- Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative