How Have We Done in Reducing Lead in Water Since the LCR?

Abstract

There has been renewed interest in water lead levels given recent localized events that have spotlighted the issue; with this in mind, it is an appropriate time to reflect on how successful the water industry has been in reducing lead levels in drinking water.Much of the current attention on lead focuses on communities that have lead service lines. Lead service lines can be a major source of lead in water, but home brass fixtures and old copper with lead or tin solder are also significant lead contributors. While there are many resources available for utilities (e.g., www.awwa.org/resources-tools/water-knowledge/lead.aspx), many consumers unfortunately do not understand the source of lead that ends up in the drinking water at consumer taps; too often, people believe that the lead is in the water coming from the city's water treatment plant. Despite the industry's efforts to educate the public, recent events that heightened awareness have also muddled the story with politics and management issues. Many utilities have been put on the defensive for practices related to the LCR. A water system's treatment and distribution implicitly require the trust of the public, so how has the industry done collectively on this front?

Children drinking private well water have higher blood lead than those with city water

“…Utilities must replace Pb service lines and/or optimize their corrosion control if more than 10% of samples exceed 15 µg/L ( 22 ). Although the 2015 Flint, Michigan, water crisis highlighted the consequences of noncompliance with the Lead and Copper Rule ( 23 , 24 ), multiple studies have shown major declines in Pb at consumer taps in community water systems in response to this rule ( 25 ). For example, a study comparing Pb in 166 water utilities nationwide with a history of Pb problems found that the median of the 90th percentile Pb concentration at consumer taps decreased from nearly 30 µg/L before the Lead and Copper Rule to ∼5 µg/L during 2000 to 2005 ( 26 ).…”

Measurements and modeling of lead reduction strategies

“…First, the data are rather old. As was shown by Cornwell (2018), generally utilities have continued to lower lead and if anything, current baseline lead levels would be lower than in 2005 and there would be less lead reduction by lowering a 90th percentile goal. The second limitation is the LCR uses first-L samples.…”

Utility considerations in developing a galvanized iron water pipe management plan

“…GIP should not be confused with Pb‐lined iron service lines where Pb tubes are inserted into iron service lines (“Report of Committee on Service Pipes”, 1917; Cornwell, 2018) (Figure 1c). Pb‐lined iron pipes appear to be most common in New England but have also been found in New Jersey, Wisconsin, and other states (Cornwell, 2018; Hantke, 2018; Massachusetts State Board of Health, 1906).…”