“This guidance is the direct result of working with our national drinking water partners to provide clarity on critical elements in implementing our regulations that help safeguard the public's drinking water,” says Ben Grumbles, acting assistant administrator for water. “We will determine if the lead rule needs additional guidance or some targeted changes.”
In 2004, the EPA discovered lead levels in certain cities across the country that prompted a review of how the lead and copper rule was being implemented. EPA collected and evaluated data that it requested from the states and, as part of this ongoing review, the agency convened national expert workshops on monitoring, lead service line replacement, public education and compliance. The guidance issued comes as a result of information gathered at those workshops.