Lead Service Lines
Review of BSU’s System
To comply with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), BSU was required to conduct a review of records to determine if there were any lead service lines in our system. This records review included researching local plumbing codes and ordinances.
Lead material was banned by ordinance in March 1981 when Lee County adopted the 1979 Standard Plumbing Code, which eliminated lead material from being used in the construction of distribution systems and house piping.
Further research of service orders from when BSU installed backflow prevention devices on every service connection do not list any parts that would indicate that we reconnected to any lead service lines.
As recent as 2021, when we installed AMI meters at every location, the inspections of each meter pit did not indicate that any lead was encountered during the project.
Based on this, a determination was made that there are no lead service lines in BSU’s water distribution system.
About the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule
EPA first established the Lead and Copper Rule in 1991 to reduce exposure to lead and copper in water. These contaminants primarily enter drinking water through corrosion of service lines, fixtures or plumbing. EPA has revised this rule multiple times since 1991 and published Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) January 15, 2021. The LCRR became effective December 16, 2021.
EPA states that the LCRR was published to “provide greater and more effective protection of public health by reducing exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. The rule will better identify high levels of lead, improve the reliability of lead tap sampling results, strengthen corrosion control treatment requirements, expand consumer awareness and improve risk communication.”
For additional information on the Lead and Copper Rule, visit EPA’s website:
Exposure to Lead and Health Effects
Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney, or nervous system problems.
Sampling for Lead at Schools and Licensed
Childcare Facilities
Beginning Oct. 16, 2024, all water systems (even those without lead service lines such as BSU) will be required to sample for lead at schools and licensed child-care facilities. They also must provide sampling results to state and local health agencies and provide information about sources of lead in drinking water, the health effects of lead, steps to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water, information on any find-and-fix activities and any changes made to corrosion control.
- Water systems are required to contact all elementary schools and licensed childcare facilities, provide information about health risks of lead in drinking water within the first five years after the compliance date, complete testing at five water outlets per school and two water outlets per childcare facility and provide EPA’s 3T’s Toolkit. Water systems must also contact secondary schools with information about the health risks of lead in drinking water and information on how to request sampling.
- Water systems are required to contact and attempt to test 20% of elementary schools and 20% of licensed childcare facilities per year so that all facilities are sampled once over the five years.
- After the water system has met the requirements for elementary schools and licensed childcare facilities once, the water system is still required to provide annual information on the health risks of lead in drinking water and provide information on how to request sampling.
- A water system must provide analytical results as soon as practicable but no later than 30 days after receipt of the results to the school or childcare facility, along with information about remediation options.