Lead Service Line Inventory—EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

New Requirements

On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) that went into effect on December 16, 2021. Group A Community and non-transient non-community (NTNC) water systems are required to follow the LCRR, which is located in 40 CFR 141. On November 1, 2024, EPA published the finalized Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which builds on the current requirements of the LCRR. The new LCRI requirements will take effect in November 2027. 

What does this mean to Group A water systems? To comply with the LCRR and LCRI, community and NTNC water systems must have developed and submitted a Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) to the state by October 16, 2024. If you are a water system purveyor or operator and your system has not submitted a complete LSLI, or if you are looking for resources to update or improve your LSLI, please see our guidance and resources below. If you are a water system purveyor or operator and your system has not submitted a complete LSLI, or if you are looking for resources to update or improve your LSLI, please see our guidance and resources below.  

Guidance and Template for LSL Inventory

The rule requires all community and non-transient non-community (NTNC) Group A water systems to submit service line inventories to the state by October 16, 2024. This requires water system to dedicate efforts to review historic records and determine appropriate identification methods to obtain both private and utility owned service line information.

We developed publications and documents to help you complete a lead service line inventory.

Use one of the following MS Excel templates to capture the inventory details.

If you did not complete your LSLI by the October 16, 2024, deadline, fill out the form below.

Notification Requirements for Lead, GRR, or Unknown

Public Water Systems that report Lead Service Lines (LSLs), Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR), or have Unknown material service lines in their inventory must provide consumer notice to those individual customers. These notices must be provided to your customers and/or persons served by the service line no later than November 15, 2024. These consumer notices must be provided to customers by mail or by email following the same electronic delivery requirements you use to send the annual consumer confidence reports (CRR Publication 331-470). The templates below include required and proposed language. Please read the last page of each template to learn what information is required in the notice.

Group A Public Water Systems: Submit Your Inventory—This is a Multi-Step Process

Please Note: If you are a customer of a water utility, please contact your utility to share information regarding your service line. Do not use this portal.

  1. To start the process, click on the next link to fill in a summary of your information: Department of Health Water Lead Service Line Inventory Submittal Portal. Fill out the form, making sure to fill out the required fields, and then submit the form.
  2. You will then get an email response letting you know how to send in your detailed inventory file. Follow the instructions in the email. After uploading your inventory file, you will receive another email stating we received your submission.
  3. Check for confirmation and save this email for future use and reference.

Key Points to Know

  • For funding opportunities relating to developing the inventory and replacing lead service lines, please visit our Drinking Water State Revolving Fund webpage.
  • All Community and non-transient non-community (NTNC) water systems must develop an initial inventory of service lines that meets the LCRR requirements, including service line materials classification and information sources, for both the public and private portions of every service line.
  • Each service line must be classified as either:
    • Lead,
    • Galvanized requiring replacement,
    • Non-lead, or 
    • Lead status unknown.
  • Non-lead service lines must be determined through evidence-based record, method, or technique.
  • Water systems must submit their inventories by October 16, 2024.
  • Water systems must make their inventories publicly available. Large water systems, populations greater than 50,000 people, must post the inventories on their website.
  • Community systems must indicate in their Consumer Confidence Report how to access service line inventory information. Non-lead community water systems may include a statement that they have no lead service lines in their Consumer Confidence Report.
  • Water systems must notify every connection served by a lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or lead status unknown within 30 days of completing and submitting their inventories.
  • Systems will need to update the inventory regularly. Systems must identify and track information on service line materials as they are encountered in the course of normal operations.

Please email your questions to LCRRassistance@doh.wa.gov or contact your regional office from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

Other Resources

Lead Service Line Inventory-Related Information and Tools