The Lead and Copper Rule became effective on December 7, 1992. This Rule requires treatment when lead and/or copper in drinking water exceeds certain levels.
Lead enters drinking water mainly from the corrosion of lead-containing house-hold plumbing. Since lead and copper contamination generally occur after water has left the distribution system, the best way for the water system operator to determine whether customer water is contaminated is to test water from a household faucet. This type of contamination can be prevented by controlling the corrosiveness of the water supply. If corrosion control is not sufficient, lead-containing material within the control of the water system (such as lead service lines) may have to be replaced. The Rule does not require the public water supply system to replace pipes in homes or businesses.
| MCGL (mg/l) | Action Level (mg/L) | |
| Lead | 0 | 0.015 |
| Copper | 1.3 | 1.3 |
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