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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)
22 Projects 1 Web Tool 1 Case Study 13 Webcasts
Water Quality
Corrosion
Pipes
Distribution System Management
Project #4693

Lead Service Line Identification Techniques

$79,476
Completed

Project Highlights

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, such as tap cards, to develop inventories of customer locations thought to...

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Principal Investigator
Zia
Bukhari
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).

 

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Recent Updates

Project #4713
Full Lead Service Line Replacement Guidance

Tasks proposed to be completed in the upcoming period include coordination with participating utilities to collect...

Project Update
07/31/2019
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...

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

Project Update
07/26/2019
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 #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 ...

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

Project Update
06/09/2019
Project #5014
Practical Framework for Water Infrastructure ...

Reporting Period: December 16, 2019 - March 15, 2020. Case study framing questions and a template...

Project Update
04/17/2020
Project #4984
Impact of Intermittent Operation on Biofilter ...

Reporting Period: April 2019 to October 2019. In addition to a continuously operated control and an...

Project Update
04/13/2020
Project #4911
Sampling and Monitoring Strategies for Opportunistic Pathogens...

Reporting Period: July 16, 2019-January 15, 2020. During this project period, the team conducted two literature...

Project Update
04/13/2020
Project #4920
Decision Support Framework for Drinking Water Treatment Plants...

During this reporting period, the research team continued to refine the Decision Support Framework (DSF) conceptual...

Project Update
09/25/2019

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...

VODA.ai

Technology Spotlight
Jim Fitchett
09/11/2020

What is your technology? VODA.ai provides machine learning (a subset of artificial intelligence) to predict water main failures in the next 12 months and over longer time frames for purposes...

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Resources

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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"...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Project #4713

Full Lead Service Line Replacement Guidance

In Progress

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

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Related Topics

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Distribution System Management

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Water Quality

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