EPA Offers New Guidance to Reduce Lead Exposure in Drinking Water

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance to help drinking water systems that are working to keep communities safe from lead. This guidance advances the agency’s commitment to clear and plain language communication while sharing information, definitions and useful examples to help water systems comply with lead pipe replacement requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule

EPA released two documents, Access Tips and Service Line Inventory Tips, to provide information to help water systems and states implement the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). In April 2026, EPA sought the public’s input on these two tips documents, and EPA considered the comments received in the development of these final resources.

The agency recently published a revamped lead website, found at epa.gov/lead, including a spotlight about Lead and Children’s Health. The streamlined website allows parents and caregivers, contractors, healthcare professionals and other users to find information on how to prevent exposures from lead. This is one of many actions being undertaken by EPA under the government-wide Federal Lead Action Plan.

The agency’s Real Water TA also focuses on hands-on assistance for communities and water systems working to address water infrastructure challenges and funding needs. This year, EPA announced nearly US$3 billion in funding for lead pipe identification and removal.

No safe level of lead exposure exists. Lead pipes, when present, are the primary source of lead in drinking water.