Lead and Copper Rule LCR Overview and Requirements

Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Overview and Requirements

LCR – The Basics • Lead Action Level (AL) § O. 015 mg/L or 15 parts per billion (ppb) § Based on 90 th percentile of samples taken § Exceeding the AL is not a violation of the LCR § Not performing required follow-up actions is a violation of the LCR • Sample sites for community water systems § Locations where lead is most likely to be present

LCR – The Basics • Number of Sample Sites Based on Population System Size (# People Served) # of Sites (Standard Monitoring) # of Sites (Reduced Monitoring) >100, 000 100 50 10, 001 to 100, 000 60 30 3, 301 to 10, 000 40 20 501 to 3, 300 20 10 101 to 500 10 5 <= 100 5 5

LCR – The Basics • Sampling frequency based on monitoring results § Initial Monitoring – 2 six months periods • January – June and July – December § Annual (July – September) • If Lead Action Level (AL) not exceeded during Initial Monitoring § Triannual (Every 3 Years) • If Lead AL not exceeded during 3 consecutive years of annual monitoring § If at any time the lead AL is exceeded, the system returns to Initial Monitoring

LCR Data Summary 2011 - 2015 • 28 public water systems exceeded the lead AL § 4 have returned to compliance § Remainder need to complete additional monitoring and follow up § 4 Medium systems (3, 301 – 50, 000 pop. ) § 24 Small systems (< 3, 300 pop. )

Requirements when Lead AL is Exceeded 1. Public Education § Within 60 days § Provide public education material to each customer § Must contain mandatory EPA language § Includes instructions on how to reduce lead exposure from drinking water § DHEC has prepared a new public education fill-in-the-blank template

Requirements when Lead AL is Exceeded 2. Water Quality Parameters (WQPs) § Within 30 days § 2 tap samples from each WQP sample site § 2 samples from each entry point to the distribution system § Number of WQP sites based on population

Number of WQP Sites • • System Size (# People Served) >100, 000 10, 001 to 100, 000 3, 301 to 10, 000 501 to 3, 300 101 to 500 <=100 # Of Sites For WQPs 25 10 3 2 1 1

Required Water Quality Parameters • • p. H Alkalinity Orthophosphate (if added) Silica (if added) Calcium Conductivity Water Temperature

Requirements when Lead AL is Exceeded 3. Source Water Monitoring § Within 6 months § One sample at every entry point to the distribution system § Bottles will be provided by the DHEC contract lab for sample collection

Requirements when Lead AL is Exceeded 4. Optimum Corrosion Control Treatment (OCCT) § Within 6 months § Complete OCCT Desktop Evaluation • DHEC Form 2134 § Recommend OCCT Based on Desktop Evaluation 5. Notification of results § Must provide individual result to homeowners

LCR Update • New EPA Guidance § Do not remove aerators for sample collection § Do not conduct pre-stagnation flushing § Use wide-mouth sample bottles § Water systems should post material inventory on their website (i. e. lead service line locations) § Post LCR sample results on website

LCR Update • Some Proposed Changes to LCR (NDWAC) § Locate and replace all lead service lines § Conduct additional WQP monitoring § Expand educational outreach § Water systems analyze customer samples upon request § Separate copper requirements from those for lead

Proper Sample Collection • Do: § Use faucet that is routinely used § Use cold water faucet only § Ensure there has been no water usage for at least 6 hours § Collect first flush sample • Do not: § Use a faucet downstream of a home treatment unit § Flush systems prior to stagnation period § Collect a sample from an outside faucet § Remove the aerator prior to sample collection

Contact Information Doug Kinard SCDHEC - Bureau of Water 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 Phone (803) 898 -3543 email: Doug. Kinard@dhec. sc. gov