THE EPA'S LCRI: A 10-YEAR DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE

The EPA has finalized the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), setting a definitive clock for municipalities across the United States. The headline is clear: Water systems must replace lead service lines within 10 years.

Key Requirements

• 100% Replacement: Systems must replace all lead and galvanized requiring replacement (GRR) service lines under their control.
• Inventory Validation: Initial inventories of service lines were due October 2024. Now, the focus shifts to validation and "unknown" identification.
• Lower Action Level: The lead action level has been lowered from 15 µg/L to 10 µg/L, meaning more systems will be triggered into mandatory compliance actions.

The Environmental Justice Angle

This rule specifically targets the disparities seen in crises like Flint and Newark. Older housing stock in underserved communities is disproportionately affected.

"We are helping municipalities not just identify lead lines, but develop the funding strategies and construction management plans to remove them efficiently." — Samuel Akinyemi, P.E.