Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) and Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI)
The Lead and Copper Rule (LCRR) and the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) apply to all Community (C) and Non-Transient Non-Community (NTNC) public water systems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the final LCRR in 2021 requiring public water systems to evaluate their service lines and submit initial service line inventories by October 16, 2024, which included making the inventory accessible to customers. The intent of the service line inventory is to schedule removal and replacement of service lines identified as having lead.
In October 2024 the EPA issued the final LCRI rule requiring C and NTNC systems to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years (by 2034). Lead connectors (also called pigtails or goosenecks) were added to the service line inventory requirements, along with continued efforts to resolve unknown service lines from the initial inventory. Public water systems must add information to their Consumer Confidence Report and submit the updated inventories annually. All elements of the LCRI are effective November 1, 2027.
Drinking Water Services will work to adopt the LCRI and establish primacy through November 1, 2027.
BIL Lead Service Line Replacement (BIL-LSLR) Funding
OHA in partnership with Business Oregon is intending to apply for federal funding to support lead service line inventory work and for the replacement of lead service lines, galvanized requiring placement and connectors. Eligible water systems include publicly and privately owned community systems and non-profit non-community systems.
Program Description
- Funding will support lead service line inventory work and the replacement of lead service lines, including goosenecks, pigtails, and connectors. For a list of activities which are considered eligible or ineligible, please refer to the
BIL-Lead Service Line Replacement Funding Eligibilities Handout.
- When replacing lead service lines, the project must replace the entire lead service line, not just a portion, unless a portion has already been replaced. Projects must fully replace both the public and private side up to the point of premise plumbing.
- Funding will be available to eligible water systems in the form of low interest loans. Under this federal funding program, 49% of annual state appropriations must be in the form of additional subsidy (i.e., principal forgiveness) allocated to
disadvantaged communities.
- Application to EPA for this federal funding is planned for mid-summer 2024 and we anticipate receiving the funds by mid fall. Invitation for water systems to move forward and receive a funding contract in this program is expected to begin late 2024 to early 2025. Money will not be available prior to the required lead service line inventory submittal deadline but can be used for future inventory related work.
How to Apply
LOI submission is closed for 2024. Stay tuned for future funding opportunities.
General Information
- Eligible water systems must submit a
Letter of Interest (LOI) form by the submission deadline. Projects are reviewed, rated, and ranked annually and placed on a project priority list which is used to allocate funding.
- For specific questions related to filling out the LOI, contact the
Regional Development Officer for the area in which the water system is located. Water systems that need further help filling out and submitting the LOI to Business Oregon are referred to
OHA’s Circuit Rider Program.
For Further Information