The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it’s adopting new rules that require water utilities to alert customers more quickly about potential lead contamination in drinking water supplies, to better protect the health of children and families.
The first major update to the agency’s Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) in almost three decades was signed on Dec. 21 by EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. It requires water utilities to notify the public of the results of lead tests within 24 hours upon detection, as opposed to within 30 days under previous measures.
