On Nov. 13, 2019, National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Proposed Lead and Copper Rule revisions were published in the Federal Register for public comment.
This proposed rule is the culmination of years of work by the Environmental Protection Agency and stakeholders in updating the existing Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). The LCR was originally promulgated in 1991 and has had several minor revisions, with the most recent short-term revisions to the LCR occurring in 2007. Guided by The Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Associated Health Impacts (2018), the EPA and other federal departments have been tightening standards to reduce exposure to lead from sources such as paint, air, soil, dust and drinking water.