Lead and Copper Rule

The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) is a United States federal regulation that limits the concentration of lead and copper allowed in public drinking water at the consumer's tap, as well as limiting the permissible amount of pipe corrosion occurring due to the water itself.

[1] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first issued the rule in 1991 pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

The EPA promulgated the regulations following studies that concluded that copper and lead have an adverse effect on individuals.

[3] The EPA has stated that the LCR has reduced exposure to lead "that can cause damage to brain, red blood cells, and kidneys, especially for young children and pregnant women."

It also explained that the rule has reduced copper exposure "that can cause stomach and intestinal distress, liver or kidney damage, and complications of Wilson’s disease in genetically predisposed people.

[6][7] Partially because of the continued use of lead pipes, some states regulated the corrosivity of treated water put into the distribution system.

The National Academy of Sciences conducted studies on the toxicity of lead (and other drinking water contaminants) as required by the SDWA.

The academy's 1977 report suggested that the drinking water standard for lead in effect at that time may not be sufficiently protective of human health.

The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, enacted in 2011, tightened the definition of "lead-free" plumbing fixtures and fittings.

A 2007 amendment added new requirements in the areas of monitoring, treatment processes, public education, customer awareness, and lead service line replacement.

[12] To implement the 2011 Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act, EPA published a final rule on September 1, 2020.

[13] In response to the Flint, Michigan water crisis (2014), EPA published a final rule on January 15, 2021 addressing testing, pipe replacement and related issues.

[4] When samples exceed the LCR's Trigger Level (15 ppb for both lead and copper), plumbing systems must be checked annually.

[21] The EPA was investigated by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2003 following the discovery of higher-than-acceptable copper and lead levels in tap water in the District of Columbia.