Beyond the Inventory: Next Steps in the Journey to Lead-Free Water

By Katie Kinsey, Simon McCormack, and Kevin Young

A major milestone was reached on Oct. 16, 2024, when the deadline passed requiring drinking water systems to provide an initial inventory of lead service lines (LSL) in their communities. A lead service line is a pipe made of lead that connects a building’s plumbing to the main water line, typically located in the street. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that lead was a common material for these lines in homes built before the 1980s due to its durability and flexibility. However, lead can leach into drinking water from these pipes, posing health risks, especially to children.

Water systems nationwide rose to the challenge of mapping their lead infrastructure. Now, the focus shifts from identification to action. The EPA’s final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) is more than just another regulatory update — it’s a roadmap to cleaner, safer drinking water and spells out how to identify and replace lead pipes to protect people from lead exposure in water.

Make plans to comply

With the LSL inventories in hand, water systems will need to shift their focus to meeting the requirements of the LCRI. Staying on track with compliance deadlines will take proactive planning, including updating drinking water sampling protocols to confirm the accuracy of LSL inventories.

Compliance by Nov. 1, 2027

By this date, water systems must have several key changes in place under LCRI. These include:

• Lower lead action level: The action level will drop from 15 μg/L to 10 μg/L. Systems that previously met standards may now need to take action, such as optimizing corrosion control or replacing lead service lines.
• Updated sampling protocols: Utilities must collect both first-liter and fifth-liter drinking water samples for sites with lead service lines and use the higher result. This helps better identify risk, especially at sites with lead, galvanized lines downstream of lead, or premise plumbing made of lead. Review the EPA’s LCRI fact sheet to learn more about lead action levels and sampling at bit.ly/LCRI_factsheet.
• Inventory verification: Initial lead service line inventories must be updated to verify all known and unknown service lines.
• Service line replacement plan: Systems must prepare a detailed plan to replace lead, galvanized requiring replacement, and unknown lines.
• Outreach to schools and child care centers: Community water systems must notify elementary schools and licensed child care facilities about sampling eligibility and share the EPA’s “3Ts” guidance — training, testing, and taking action.

Beyond pipes: Protecting people

The following LCRI requirements will strengthen protections and enhance communication:

• Certified filters for partial replacements: Certified point-of-use filters must be provided during partial LSL replacements to reduce lead exposure risks.
• 24-hour consumer notifications: Any disturbance to lead service lines requires notifying customers within 24 hours, along with steps to reduce exposure.
• Improved consumer confidence reports: Reports must include clearer language, service line replacement details, and guidance for reducing lead exposure.
• Education after exceedance: If a system exceeds the action level, educational materials must be sent to every service address — not just billing customers — with targeted messaging for vulnerable populations.
• Sampling offers: Community water systems must offer water sampling to homes that exceed the action level or are served by lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown service lines.

Key future deadlines

Several key deadlines are on the horizon as the LCRI moves from planning to long-term implementation:

• Jan. 1, 2028: Water systems with lead or galvanized requiring replacement lines must begin six-month monitoring unless they’ve already met LCRI protocols (including the new lower action level).
• Jan. 30, 2029: Annual service line inventory updates begin.
• October 2032: Schools and child care facilities must complete lead sampling and conduct follow-up testing as needed. Water systems are responsible for providing sampling guidance and ensuring timely results and remediation recommendations.
• Dec. 31, 2034: Water systems must verify the accuracy of all previously identified nonlead service lines through historical record reviews, inspections, and water sampling. Any unverified or incorrect classifications must be addressed.
• Dec. 31, 2037: All lead and qualifying galvanized service lines must be fully replaced.

Why it matters

Lead exposure can impact everything from cognitive development in kids to cardiovascular health in adults. With these improvements, the EPA isn’t just enforcing rules — it’s investing in the long-term health and future of our communities.

This next chapter is about more than compliance, it’s about delivering safer water, building trust, and creating healthier futures. Stay tuned, stay hydrated, and stay lead-free.

Learn more about the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements at bit.ly/LCRI_rule.

Katie Kinsey, Simon McCormack, and Kevin Young are registered professional engineers at SEH (sehinc.com). SEH is a member of the League’s Business Leadership Council (lmc.org/sponsors).