Clarifications Needed to Strengthen the Lead and Copper Rule Working Group’s Recommendations for Long Term Revisions to the Federal Lead and Copper Rule

The August 24, 2015 final report from the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) Lead and Copper Rule Working Group (LCRWG) to the NDWAC presents a series of recommendations intended to improve the public health protection and implementation of the federal Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) through proactive lead service line (LSL) replacement programs, more robust public education requirements, stronger corrosion control treatment (CCT) requirements, and modified monitoring requirements. A proactive, consumer-centric approach to the EPA’s upcoming revisions to the LCR is an excellent strategy for improving public health protection by reducing consumer exposure to lead in drinking water. This policy brief suggests clarifications to those recommendations to ensure that the public health protections of the LCR are increased and not reduced.

NEMWI LCR recommendations