Lead Service Line Inventories

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Lead and Copper Rule Revisions

EPA published the final LCRR in the Federal Register on January 15, 2021. The final rule includes several new provisions and changes to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), including requiring water systems to identify and make public the locations of lead, non-lead, and unknown service lines through a lead service line inventory.

On March 12, 2021, EPA published a notice that impacts implementation for the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). The notice proposed to delay the effective date of the LCRR until December 16, 2021 and proposed to delay the compliance date to October 16, 2024.

EPA also announced that the LCRR will go into effect to support near-term development of actions to reduce lead in drinking water, such as the development of lead service line inventories by public water supply systems. At the same time, EPA will develop a new proposed rulemaking to strengthen key elements of the LCRR. The agency anticipates finalizing the forthcoming Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) prior to October 16, 2024, the current compliance date for the LCRR.

A fact sheet from EPA is available regarding next steps for the Lead and Copper Rule.

This information is current as of March 2022.

Lead Service Line Inventory Resources for Public Water Supply Systems

The Iowa DNR's lead service line inventory template is now available. All public water supply systems that are classified as community water systems (CWSs) and non-transient non-community (NTNC) water systems are required to submit their lead service line inventories to the Iowa DNR by October 16, 2024. This template will include the information required by the Iowa DNR for lead service line inventories.

If you are a system who has less than 10,000 service lines, please use the Iowa Lead Service Line Inventory Small File (3,5 MB).  If you are a system who has 10,000 or more service lines, please use the Iowa Lead Service Line Inventory Large File (57.7 MB).  The Iowa Lead Service Line Large File (57.7 MB) may take a few minutes to download.

Please email LCRR@dnr.iowa.gov if you are unable to open the Excel file.

In 1986, Congress amended the SDWA to prohibit the use of pipes, solder or flux that are not “lead free” in public water systems or plumbing in facilities providing water for human consumption. At the time, lead free was defined as solder and flux with no more than 0.2 percent lead and pipes with no more than 8.0 percent lead.

In 1996, Congress further amended the SDWA to prohibit the use of pipe and plumbing fittings and fixtures that are not lead free in the installation and repair of any public water system or plumbing in a facility providing water for human consumption. The 1996 amendments also required lead free plumbing fittings and fixtures (endpoint devices) to be in compliance with a lead leaching standard.

States were required to enforce the lead ban by June of 1988.

If a home was constructed after 1988 in Iowa, it is expected that the service line for that home was constructed using material other than lead. Public water supply systems developing their lead service line inventories may designate homes built after 1988 as not having a lead service line in their inventory.

Local ordinances or codes may also provide a time frame that can be used in service line material determinations.

In February of 2022, the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) held a series of eight 90-minute online sessions about various topics related to lead service line inventory work. Community and non-transient non-community public water supply systems are required to submit service line inventories as a result of the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. Resources from these sessions can be found on ASDWA’s website, or can be accessed through the table below.

Topic of ASDWA’s Lead Service Line Symposium Session Link to ASDWA's Slides Link to ASDWA's Recordings
Overview of Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Overview Slides Overview Recording [YouTube]
Notes from the Field: State and Utility Experiences with Existing LSL Inventory Rules Field Notes Slides Field Notes Recording [YouTube]
Capitalizing in Innovations for LSL Inventories Innovations Slides Innovations Recording [YouTube]
Small Systems, Big Challenges: Implementing LSL Inventories and Replacements at Small Systems Implementing Slides Implementing Recording [YouTube]
Water System Inventory Case Studies Case Study Slides (1/2)
Case Study Slides (2/2) 		Case Study Recording [YouTube]
Show me the Money: Funding for LSL Inventories and Replacement Funding Slides Funding Recording [YouTube]
The Other Side of the Meter: Practical Tools for Collecting Private-Side Service Line Material Practical Tools Slides Practical Tools Recording [YouTube]
Tell Me About It: Mapping and Communicating Your LSL Inventory and Replacements Mapping Slides [YouTube] Mapping Recording [YouTube]

External Resources

There are additional resources about lead that can educate public water supply systems and the public on steps that can be taken. Some of these resources are shared here.