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Lead & Copper

Lead and copper in service lines and household plumbing are the primary drinking water corrosion compounds of concern. Lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health even at low exposure levels. Lead is persistent and can bioaccumulate in the body over time. Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child. People who drink water containing copper in excess of 1.3 mg/L may experience short-term nausea, while long-term exposure can affect the liver and kidneys.

Lead is rarely found in source water and usually enters drinking water through corrosion of household plumbing. Lead at the tap can come from a variety of sources, including lead service lines, lead piping inside the home, lead-based solder, and brass components. The concentrations of lead and copper in water are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule.

Topic Overview (PDF)
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23 Projects 1 Web Tool 1 Case Study 14 Webcasts
Water Quality
Corrosion
Pipes
Distribution System Management
Project #4713

Full Lead Service Line Replacement Guidance

$1,406,510
2021
In Progress

Project Highlights

Removing the entire lead service line (LSL) eliminates one significant potential source of lead. However, even after full LSL replacement, lead sources can still be present that can contribute to lead levels at the tap. Following a full LSL replacement...

View more details
Sep 15, 2017
Principal Investigator
Richard
Brown
Research Manager
Mr. Jonathan Cuppett

Lead and Copper Corrosion: An Overview of WRF Research

WRF has funded over 50 research projects related to lead and copper corrosion valued at more than $20 million. This state of the science document summarizes the objectives, general research approach, and major findings of this body of research, and offers a basic understanding of the issues surrounding distribution system corrosion and the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR).

 

Download this document

Recent Updates

Project #4953
Considerations and Blending Strategies for Drinking Water System...

Reporting Period: May 1, 2020 - July 31, 2020. This project kicked off in February 2020...

Project Update
10/02/2020
Project #4983
Evaluating Legionella Detection Rates and Occurrence by...

Reporting Period: November 1, 2019 - April 30, 2020. During this project period, MSU and SHU...

Project Update
05/26/2020
Project #4983
Evaluating Legionella Detection Rates and Occurrence by...

Reporting Period: May 1, 2019 - October 31, 2019. The team developed molecular methods, including conducting...

Project Update
12/27/2019
Project #4983
Evaluating Legionella Detection Rates and Occurrence by...

The goals of this project are to examine Legionella occurrence and concentration throughout a public water...

Project Update
07/26/2019
Project #4971
Leveraging the Role of Pretreatment Programs in One Water Initiatives:...

Reporting Period: November 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020. Recent progress focused on the development of...

Project Update
04/02/2021
Project #4971
Leveraging the Role of Pretreatment Programs in One Water Initiatives:...

Reporting Period: April 1, 2020 – September 30, 2020. During this project period, the project team...

Project Update
11/20/2020
Project #4911
Sampling and Monitoring Strategies for Opportunistic Pathogens...

Reporting Period: January 16, 2020 - August 31, 2020. During this project period, the team expanded...

Project Update
10/02/2020
Project #4974
Holistic Approach to Improved Nutrient ...

Reporting Period: September 18, 2019 - August 20, 2020. The three in-person workshops have been reformulated...

Project Update
09/23/2020
Project #4984
Impact of Intermittent Operation on Biofilter ...

Reporting Period: October 2019 - August 2020. This project has focused on the impact of routine...

Project Update
09/23/2020
Project #4984
Impact of Intermittent Operation on Biofilter ...

The main focus of the project to-date has been monitoring the biological acclimation of pilotscale filters...

Project Update
06/09/2019

News

Lead and Copper Management

06/06/2019

Water utilities play a critical role in protecting public health by minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking water. Household plumbing and service lines can contain lead and copper pipes...

The Water Research Foundation Announces New RFPs for 12 Research Projects

Press Release
07/09/2019

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has announced that Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are available for 12 new research projects. The RFPs are as follows: Occurrence of PFAS Compounds in U.S...

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

Featured Facility
Matthew T. Magruder
06/13/2019

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is a regional government agency that provides water reclamation and flood management services for about 1.1 million people in 28 communities in the Greater Milwaukee...

View all Lead & Copper News

Resources

Lead and Copper Rule: Potential Regulatory Changes, Corrosion Chemistry, and Stakeholder Communication

Webcast
04/21/2016
04/21/2016
Public Plus

Optimization of Phosphorus-Based Corrosion Control Chemicals Using a Comprehensive Perspective of Water Quality

Report
#4586
11/14/2017
11/14/2017
Public Plus

Lead Service Line Identification Techniques

Executive Summary
06/08/2020
06/08/2020
View all Lead & Copper Resources

Related Projects

Project #4584

Evaluation of Flushing to Reduce Lead Levels

Completed

The project evaluated the impact of high-velocity flushing on the removal of particulate lead from service lines and premise plumbing, and the subsequent impact on "at the tap"...

View more details
Project #4693

Lead Service Line Identification Techniques

Completed

Developing an accurate inventory of lead service lines (LSLs) is a challenge facing many water utilities. The water sector has relied on indirect methods that use historical records...

View more details
Project #157

Distribution System Water Quality Changes Following Corrosion Control Strategies

Completed

Evaluates the impact of plant-scale implementation of corrosion control for lead and copper on water quality in the distribution system (e.g., red water, turbidity, biological growth). Reports on...

View more details
Project #4713

Full Lead Service Line Replacement Guidance

In Progress

Removing the entire lead service line (LSL) eliminates one significant potential source of lead. However, even after full LSL replacement, lead sources can still be present that can...

View more details
Project #5032

Analysis of Corrosion Control Treatment for Lead and Copper Control

In Progress

The objective of this project is to create a guidance document based on science and utility experience for state regulators and water systems recommending when and how to...

View more details
Project #4910

Evaluating Key Factors That Affect the Accumulation and Release of Lead from Galvanized Pipes

In Progress

This project will develop cutting edge tools that will evaluate links between galvanized iron pipe (GIP) and lead (Pb) release, by (1) scientifically assessing customers’ concerns related to...

View more details

Related Topics

Link

Distribution System Management

Link

Corrosion

Link

Pipes

Link

Water Quality

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