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Lead in Drinking Water How can the government provide better oversight?
An Overview of GAO-17-424

WHY IS LEAD A PROBLEM?

Drinking water contaminated with lead poses a significant danger to
public health.

Lead can affect almost every organ and system in adults. Some common
effects: - increased blood pressure - decreased kidney function -
reproductive problems - memory loss

It poses the greatest risk to infants, children under the age of 6, and
pregnant women potentially causing - premature birth - delayed growth
- lower IQ - learning/behavioral problems

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other public health
agencies have determined that there is no level of lead that is safe for
consumption.

Lead in drinking water usually comes from corrosion of pipes, solders
(joints), or fixtures made of lead or brass that carry water from a
treatment plant to houses or buildings.

Corrosion occurs when these plumbing materials come into contact with
corrosive water‐for example, water with low pH.

According to a recent industry estimate, there are 6.1 million lead
pipes throughout the United States that deliver drinking water to 15‐22
million people.

How does water get to your home? Illustration: Flow of water between:
Source water Water treatment plant Distribution system Water storage
tank School and child care facility OR Residential area Plumbing
fixtures, solders, and fittings



REGULATING LEAD IN DRINKING WATER

To reduce lead in the nation's drinking water, the EPA introduced the
Lead and Copper Rule in 1991 -- a complex regulation that requires
collaboration among the EPA, states, water systems, and homeowners.

This rule applies to 45% of water systems (those that serve the same
customers for at least 6 months of the year), which supply about 312
million people.

Water systems must routinely take samples of tap water, and notify
homeowners and states of the test results. When they find lead above the
lead action level*, they must, as appropriate: - Apply corrosion control
treatments (such as adjusting the pH of the water). - Provide
educational materials to consumers (and others). - Test water quality
conditions, and test and treat the source water. - If necessary, replace
lead pipes owned by the water system. Water systems must also report
information on their sampling activities to the state. The state then
reports this information to EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information
System. The EPA uses this database to oversee and monitor compliance
with the rule. * The lead action level established by the rule is 15
parts per billion in over 10 percent of the water samples. This level,
when exceeded, indicates to water systems that corrosion control is
needed or not working correctly.

How Can the EPA Improve Oversight of the Lead and Copper Rule?

They could collect data on, among other things, where lead pipes are
located. They could use additional statistical analysis to predict
whether some water systems have a higher likelihood of having a reported
violation of the rule.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT LEAD IN YOUR DRINKING WATER?

The EPA suggests the following steps to minimize lead in your drinking
water.

1. Determine the quality of your water.

 - Contact your water utility if you'd like to receive a copy of its
 annual water quality report (i.e., a Consumer Confidence Report).
 Public water systems must also alert you if there is a problem with
 your system's drinking water. - Have your water tested for lead by a
 certified lab‐Since you cannot see, taste or smell lead dissolved in
 water, testing is the only sure way to tell if there is lead in your
 drinking water. Call EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
 (1-800-426-4791) for more information.                                              

2. Take action.

 - Let the water in your pipes run before using it for drinking or
 cooking. How long? Your water system has specific recommendations. -
 Only use water from the cold-water tap for eating and drinking. Note
 that boiling water will NOT get rid of lead contamination. - Use water
 filters or treatment devices‐but verify with independent certifying
 organizations to make sure the device actually removes lead. - Consider
 replacing pipes, solders, and plumbing fixtures that contain lead.

LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? See GAO-17-424 at GAO.GOV. This work has
been released into the public domain.

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