Lead and Drinking Water

Lead, unlike many other drinking water contaminants, is usually not present in the drinking water source, but rather results from the distribution system or on site plumbing itself.

Environmental Justice, Water

Lead and Drinking Water

Lead is a highly poisonous metal and can affect almost every organ in the body and the nervous system. It is a naturally occurring element found, due to human activity, in all parts of our environment.

Water

EPA's Proposed Revisions to the Safe Drinking Water Act's Lead and Copper Rule

It’s disappointing that EPA chose not to require full replacement of lead service lines — the largest source of lead in drinking water — and stopped short of other measures to reduce exposure.

pitcher of water. photo: successo images / shutterstock.com
Water

Comments on Denver Water's Draft Lead Reduction Plan

Clean Water Action strongly supports Denver Water’s commitment to seek an alternative to orthophosphate that will achieve the same or greater reduction in lead exposure risk for its customers.

PDF icon Clean Water Action Comments on Denver LRP August 2019.pdf
EPA office building
Water

Clean Water Action: EPA's proposal is missing the best way to get the lead out

“EPA’s proposal lacks the most proactive step we can take to reduce lead at the tap - a timeline and a requirement for full lead service line replacement,”  said Lynn Thorp, Clean Water Action National Campaigns Director. “There is a clear public health case and national momentum to get the lead out through a holistic and thorough plan to replace service lines.”

 

From We All Live Downstream

EPA office building
Budget cuts will get in the way of getting the lead out
National
February 13, 2020

As I watched a February 11 hearing about regulating lead at the tap, I experienced one of those “Opposite Day” episodes where two objective realities collide. I listened to 7 witnesses talk to the U.S. Congress about the proposed revisions to the Safe Drinking Water Act Lead and Copper Rule. My colleague Kim Gaddy, who lives in Newark, talked about what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should do to improve the proposal.

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Child's picture of an unhappy person with lead in their drinking water, and a happy person with clean water. Collected at the door by canvasser Kate Brinemann.
Canvassing for Clean Water and the Lead and Copper Rule
Maryland
January 24, 2020

UPDATE: The public comment period closed on February 12, 2020. Clean Water Action members submitted more than 15,000 letters and emails asking EPA to do more to protect our water and communities from lead.

Hi all! My name is Veronica Weyhrauch and I’m a Field Manager with our Maryland office. Every day the entire field canvass team, including myself, head out to knock on doors and convince people to get involved.

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Three glasses of water on a table. Photo credit: bunyarit / Shutterstock
Key Issues in EPA’s Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Revisions #3 -- Faster Replacement
National
January 22, 2020

Under current regulations, if water systems exceed the Action Level for lead, they must take a number of actions including commencing lead service line replacement at a rate of 7% annually.  EPA’s proposed LCR revisions reduce this rate to 3% while closing some loopholes and proposing other requirements that will support more efficient and effective replacement programs. While closing loopholes and putting in place other requirements to make replacement activities more effective are positive steps, EPA is  justified in lowering the required rate of replacement. When systems exceed the lead Action Level, 7% is a realistic yet ambitious rate of replacement.

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