Overview
The goal of the two programs for Lead Service Line inventories and replacement planning programs is to assist public water suppliers with complying with Lead and Copper Rule revisions. The planning program will offer grants for projects completing these activities. Additionally, MassDEP will offer direct technical assistance for Community and Non-Transient, Non-Community public water suppliers serving less than 10,000 persons.
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Grant
Starting July 2022, the Trust is offering $20 million in grants for activities assisting public water suppliers (PWSs) to complete planning projects for Lead Service Line (LSL) inventories and for the development of LSL replacement plans. MassDEP will accept grant applications on a rolling basis while funding is available.
The Trust recommends that PWSs apply as soon as possible to access funding as applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Application instructions and links are available on MassDEP’s website.
Program funding will come from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Lead Service Line Grant and the Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Act (WIFTA) funds. The details on the projects funded by the sources of funding will be reported in the DWSRF Annual Report.
Only the WIFTA funds can be used for PWSs serving non-Disadvantaged Communities. Please visit the Trust’s Disadvantaged Community Program page for more information on the ranking of disadvantaged communities.
The LSL Planning Program grants will follow all SRF requirements but on an expediated schedule. As part of these requirements participating PWSs may be in receipt of federal funds and be responsible for the reporting requirements associated with those funds. Participants will have two years to complete the project from the date of project approval.
Please review the Trust's Grant Agreement for further information and the Additional Subsidy as a Grant guidance document from the US Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA).
Technical Assistance for Small Community Water Systems and Non-Transient, Non-Community Systems
An alternative to the SRF grant, for PWSs serving a population of less than 10,000, MassDEP will use $1.3 million of the set-asides from the DWSRF Lead Service Line Grant to contract with a qualified technical assistance provider to work with the PWS to complete the eligible planning projects detailed below.
The program will be managed and operated by the MassDEP Bureau of Water Resources, Drinking Water Program. Application information will be available shortly. All small systems have the option of applying for the Lead Service Line Planning Grant Program through the SRF program described above.
For inquiries about the technical assistance program please send an email to program.director-dwp@mass.gov (subject: LCRR-Small Systems Grant).
Additional Resources
Eligible Planning Activities
Lead Service Line Inventory
Completing a comprehensive LSL inventory for both public and private LSLs that will be made publicly available as detailed by MassDEP. The lead service line inventory must be reported in a fully electronic format specified by MassDEP or in an alternate format approved by MassDEP that can be readily compiled into their system. For more information see
- LCRR Lead Service Line Inventories: An Infographic
- Getting Ready for the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions: Lead Service Line Inventories
- Massachusetts Lead Service Line Identification (MA-LSLI) Web App
- Instructions for use of the Mass Lead Service Line Identification (MA-LSLI) Web App
LSL Replacement Program
Preparing an LSL replacement program for the Public Water Suppliers (PWS) that complies with Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRRs). PWS’s lead service line removal plans need to incorporate the MassDEP goal of protecting public health by planning to remove all lead service lines in 5 years.
About the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
In 1991 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated regulations known as the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) under the authority of the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act. The LCR helps protect public health by regulating water suppliers on how to treat and control for lead. Finalized in 2021, the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRRs) require all PWSs to complete a full inventory of service lines connected to its distribution system, regardless of if they are owned or controlled by the water system by October 16, 2024. Additionally, the results of the LSL inventory must be accessible to the public. Further, PWSs must also submit a plan to MassDEP by the 2024 deadline detailing how the PWS will prioritize, fund, and fully remove LSLs connected to its distribution system.
For more information on LCRR please visit EPA's website.
Glossary of Terms
- LCRR - Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
- LSL - Lead Service Line
- MassDEP- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
- PWS - Public Water Supplier
- DWSRF - Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
- WIFTA - Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Act
Contact
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Boston, MA 02108
| Date published: | June 7, 2022 |
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