LCRI Questions and Answers

How do I know if I have a lead service line?

Contact your water utility or a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made of lead. When lead service lines are present, they represent the greatest source of lead exposure in drinking water. Protect Your Tap: A quick check for lead is EPA's step by step guide to learn how to find lead pipes in your home.
Water systems must develop an inventory that includes the material and location of service lines and connectors in their service area. Water systems must notify persons if they are served by a lead service line, a galvanized line that may be contaminated by lead, or if the water system does not know the material of the service line. In addition, the inventory must be publicly accessible and will offer you another way to find out if you have a lead service line.
The LCRI requires the replacement of lead service lines and certain galvanized service lines under the control of the water system, most within 10 years or less.

What can I do to protect myself from lead?

Learn more about lead in drinking water and how to limit your exposure here. EPA also recommends you contact your water system and health department for localized guidance. Some steps you can take at any time to reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water include:

Use your filter properly. Using a filter can reduce lead in drinking water. If you use a filter, make sure you use a filter certified to remove lead. Read the directions to learn how to properly install and use your cartridge and when to replace it. Using the cartridge after it has expired can make it less effective at removing lead. Do not run hot water through the filter.
Clean your aerator. Regularly clean your faucet’s screen (also known as an aerator). Sediment, debris, and lead particles can collect in your aerator. If lead particles are caught in the aerator, lead can get into your water.
Use cold water. Use only cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Hot water from the tap can contain higher levels of lead. Remember, boiling water does not remove lead from water.
Run your water. The more time water has been sitting in pipes, the more lead it may contain. Before drinking, flush your home’s pipes by running the tap, taking a shower, doing laundry, or doing a load of dishes. The amount of time to run the water will depend on whether your home has a lead service line or not, and the length of the lead service line. Residents should contact their water utility for recommendations about flushing times in their community.
Learn if you have a lead service line. Find out if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made from lead. Ask your water utility or if your utility does not have information a licensed plumber may be able to assist. Protect Your Tap: A quick check for lead is EPA's step by step guide to learn how to find lead pipes in your home. If you have a lead service line, contact your water utility to participate in their service line replacement program.
Learn about construction in your neighborhood. If you have a lead service line, you should be aware of any nearby construction or maintenance work that could disturb the line. Ground tremors from construction may suddenly cause more lead to be released from a lead service line in the area.
Have your water tested. Contact your water utility to have your water tested and to learn more about the lead levels in your drinking water.

How will the LCRI protect me?

The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) will significantly reduce exposure to lead through drinking water. The LCRI:

Requires all water systems to regularly update service line inventories and identify all unknown service lines by the replacement deadline.
Improves the requirements for drinking water sampling to better identify communities most at risk of elevated lead in drinking water to compel systems to take actions.
Lowers the lead action level to 10 µg/L to require more water systems to take action sooner to control corrosion and provide public education.
Improves the public education requirements for water systems by updating the content and delivery frequency for more proactive messaging about lead in drinking water, as well as other revisions to increase transparency and better inform the public of lead exposure and health risks
Reduces the complexity of the rule and includes provisions to support more efficient implementation by water systems while reducing lead exposure in more communities.

What are the health effects of lead?

There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children.
Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects.
Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.
Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks.

When will water systems be required to comply with the new LCRI?

The Safe Drinking Water Act generally requires that drinking water systems must comply with drinking water regulations three years following their promulgation. This provides time for States to work with water systems to prepare to comply with new requirements.
Water systems must begin complying with the provisions of the LCRI three years following the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register expected to be late 2027).
Water systems must continue to comply with the Lead and Copper Rule until that time with the exception of a few 2021 LCRR rule requirements that systems must comply with starting October 16, 2024. These include submission of the LCRR initial lead service line inventory, notifications of known or potential lead service lines, and 24-hour Tier 1 public notification of a lead action level exceedance (at 0.015 mg/L).

When will all LSLs be replaced?

Approximately 99% of systems are required to replace lead and GRR service lines under their control in 10 years or less.
The LCRI allows a small number of systems to replace service lines in accordance with a longer deadline where 10 years is not feasible.
The LCRI requires that these systems replace these service lines as quickly as feasible, and to regularly make the case that they are replacing service lines as quickly as feasible.

How can implementation of the LCRI help address environmental justice concerns?

EPA is finalizing requirements in the LCRI to help address environmental justice concerns such as barriers to service line replacement and access to information.
As part of the final LCRI service line replacement plan requirement, systems must include a service line replacement prioritization strategy, a funding strategy, and a strategy to achieve full replacement at rental properties. Water systems must make their replacement plans available to the public.
Water systems and States must identify barriers to full service line replacement. Identifying these potential barriers and making the information publicly available in the replacement plan can support a community discussion about where barriers exist and how best to address them.
EPA is finalizing the requirement to ban partial replacements unless such replacements are conducted in response to emergency repairs or planned infrastructure work.
The final rule also improves the rule’s public education requirements to make information about lead in drinking water more accessible to consumers including individuals with limited English proficiency.
There is an unprecedented amount of Federal funds available to cover lead service line replacement, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). BIL requires that States provide 49 percent of their lead service line replacement and General Supplemental capitalization grant amounts as additional subsidization in the form of principal forgiveness and/or grants to disadvantaged communities. Other Federal funding sources also provide opportunities for equitable funding opportunities for communities to utilize for lead service line replacement.

How will water systems pay for it? Are Federal resources available to help?

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and funding programs like the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) provide billions of dollars for projects to reduce lead in drinking water. To complement this historic federal funding, EPA’s technical assistance programs are helping more communities plan and apply for funding.
BIL invests $15 billion towards lead service line replacement through the DWSRF program, helping to reduce costs for water systems. With this investment, 49% of funds will be provided to disadvantaged communities as grants or principal forgiveness loans. State match is not required.
In addition to the dedicated investment in lead service line replacement, BIL provides an additional $11.7 billion in general supplemental funding through the DWSRF program, which can also be utilized for corrosion control treatment and lead service line removal projects.
EPA’s water technical assistance (WaterTA), including the Get the Lead Out (GLO) Initiative, helps disadvantaged communities identify lead services lines, develop replacement plans, and apply for DWSRF funding to get the lead out.
This effort is changing the odds for communities that have faced barriers to planning and accessing funding for lead service line replacements.
Communities seeking to access GLO Initiative resources can request assistance by completing the WaterTA request form on EPA’s WaterTA website.