State of Wisconsin DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 101 S. Webster Street Box 7921 Madison Wt 53707-7921 Scott Walker, Governor Cathy Stepp, Secretary Teiephone 608-266-2621 Toll Free 1-888-936-7463 Access Via relay - :21 1 DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES December 02, 2016 Lead and Copper Rule Implementation at Community Public Water Systems Dear Community Public Water System Official: This tetter is being sent to ali Community Public Water System (System) officials clarifying the requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and providing updated U.S. EPA implementation recommendations. Recent events indicate that federal regulations do not adequately reduce the risk of lead exposure from drinking water and may result in health consequences due to elevated blood lead levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is clear that all exposures to lead should be minimizedi. The Department of Natural Resources (department) is responsible for ensuring compliance with the LCR. The department recommends that System officials go beyond LCR requirements to educate consumers about the danger of lead in drinking water and take additional actions to further reduce iead exposure through drinking water. Specificaiiy: 1. Assure your system is meeting and implementing all LCR requirements and associated U.5.EPA guidance2 and protocols. a. Required actions: i. Review the System's lead and copper monitoring site plan to ensure that sampling sites are appropriate and meet the required Tier criteria prior to future compliance sampling events (NR Wis. Adm. Code). ii. If optimizing corrosion control utilizing chemical addition, review and ensure the treatment strategy efficacy/3 (NR Wis. Adm. Code). Contact the department prior to any implementation of source water or water treatment changes; potential effects on water chemistry must be thoroughly examined3 (NR Wis. Adm. Code). b. Additional recommended actions: i. Incorporate updated sampling instructions into future sampling events?. ii. Review and update the System?s distribution system materials inventory. include all public and privately owned water piping materials, specifically any iead componentsz. Avoid partial iead service iine replacement and proactiveiy engage in a lead Center for Disease Control (CDC) information on lead and drinking water. 2 Joe} Beauvais, Of?ce of Water, US. EPA, Letter sent to Commissioners, February 29, 2016. issionersfebZO i 6.pdf 3 Peter C. Grevatt, Office of Ground Water Drinking Water, US. Lead and COpper Rule Requirements for Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment for Large Drinking Water Systems Memorandum, November 03, 2015. 4 Peter C. Grevatt, Of?ce of Ground Water Drinking Water, US. EPA, Clari?cation of Recommended Tap Sampling Procedures for Purposes of the Lead and Copper Rule Memorandum, February 29, 2016. dnr.wi.gov wisconsinsov Normally WISCONSIN Page 2 service line replacement program. have not been shown to reliably reduce drinking water lead levels in the short-term and are frequently associated with eievated lead levels for some period of time after replacements. 2. Proactiver provide monitoring results and public educational information directly to all residents as soon as possible. Increase transparency and assistance to the public. c. Required actions: i. Systems must provide notice of test results to consumers at residences in which samples were taken as soon as practical, but no later than 30 days after receiving the test results (NR 809.546l4), Wis. Adm. Code). ii. Systems must distribute pubiic education materials to all paying customers when lead monitoring results exceed an Action Level (NR Wis. Adm. Code). a. Recommended actions: i. Provide notice of test resuits and pubiic educational materials directly to consumers at residences in which sample results exceeded 15 parts per billion (ppb); results must be provided within 24 hours of receiving test results (DNR recommendation). ii. Work with your local health department when an individual?s home monitoring result is above 15 or you have a community action level exceedance (DNR recommendation). Demonstrate transparency in lead monitoring by making materials available within your community including sampling results, educational materials, and locations of lead service lines. If possible post this information on a websitez. iv. Distribute additional information regarding ways to protect consumers from exposure to lead in drinking water (including information on testing options) to vulnerable populationss. For more information please visit our webpage on lead and drinking water at The department wili continue to work in partnership with you to address the risks of lead in drinking water. Thank you for your cooperation in impiementing these actions. Progress on protecting consumers from exposure to lead in drinking water will be discussed at your next sanitary survey inspection. For additional details regarding the above items, please see the attached frequently asked questions (FAQ) document. Please contact your local DNR Representative if you have any questions. Sincerely, ?nge?c? Steven B. Elmore Director, Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater cc: Water System Operators on File (by email) enclosure: Lead and Copper Rule letter 5 Report of the Lead and Copper Rule Working Group to the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, August 24, 2015.