Preparing for New Requirements of Lead Copper Rule Revisions

As we await the Biden administration's review and approval of the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) promulgated on December 22, 2020, it is time to start familiarizing yourself with the proposed revisions, which seek to better protect children and communities with more effective requirements. At a glance, the revisions will require water suppliers to identify the most impacted areas by conducting a Lead Service line (LSL) inventory; strengthen drinking water treatment and corrosion control practices; replace LSLs; increase sampling reliability; improve risk communication; and better protect children in schools and childcare facilities. Through exploring how three communities proactively addressed the risk of lead in drinking water, attendees will gain a better understanding of what to expect when the LCRR is in effect, what are federal mandates, and how to get a head start. New York City Parks and Recreation Department conducted a robust testing program to sample more than 3,500 interior and exterior drinking water fountains at its public spaces across the city's five boroughs, within 3 months. Existing asset data allowed the project team to leverage GIS and compatible mobile applications to identify fountain sites, track stagnation, and manage testing and results in real time. The extensive data management required for this project provides valuable insight for managing LSL inventories and workflows around the find and fix philosophy as proposed by the LCRR. In 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) assisted the city of Lynn in mapping facilities and conducting baseline sampling for lead and copper at more than 600 fixture locations in 25 public school buildings. After receiving the baseline sampling results, a phased approach was developed to address fixtures with elevated lead levels on a priority basis. Beginning in late 2019, the city entered the second phase of their program addressing lead in school drinking water and began replacing more than 400 drinking water and non-drinking water fixtures throughout its schools. School closures due to COVID-19 proved beneficial to this project as it allowed for school-wide water shutoffs that resulted in an accelerated replacement program. Approaches to comply with LCRR in absence of readily flushable connections which is often the case within schools will be addressed. California's El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) conducted a bench study to proactively evaluate alternatives for their drinking water corrosion control treatment. The district added zinc orthophosphate (ZOP) at its three water treatment plants to reduce in-house plumbing lead corrosion. The study assessed the feasibility of converting to a phosphoric acid corrosion inhibitor in lieu of ZOP to reduce zinc loading to the distribution system and subsequently to wastewater. This included development and implementation of a distribution system monitoring plan designed to assess potential impacts to distribution system corrosion with a particular focus on areas with asbestos cement piping. The results of the study were utilized by EID, in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, to improve the District's overall corrosion control strategy to specifically address the upcoming LCRR requirements. Participants in this session will learn how these three entities with different goals and limitations approached comprehensive investigations to reduce lead exposure to consumers and worked proactively to make changes that improve water quality in advance of the forthcoming LCRR. The presentation will also provide brief insight on the impact of 'potential revisions to the microbial and disinfection byproduct rules' from the LCRR, with emphasis on proposed minimum oxidant residuals and common measures to control lead, microbial levels and DBPs.