Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has joined a coalition of states to defend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). The rule, effective since December 30, strengthens previous regulations by mandating more stringent standards for drinking water safety. It includes a requirement for water systems to replace lead pipes nationwide within ten years. The American Water Works Association is challenging the LCRI.
"Reducing lead in our drinking water shouldn’t be controversial," stated Attorney General Kaul. "This common-sense rule that helps protect people’s health should remain in place."
The Lead and Copper Rule, originally enacted in 1991, aims to reduce harmful exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. Lead is a toxic metal that can affect nearly every organ and system in the body, posing significant risks particularly to children whose developing brains are more vulnerable. Health issues linked to lead exposure include learning disabilities and developmental delays in children, as well as cardiovascular and kidney problems in adults. The EPA has established that no level of lead in drinking water is safe.
Lead contamination typically results from corrosion of plumbing materials containing lead or brass, especially if water quality parameters like alkalinity are not managed properly. High levels of lead often impact low-income communities and communities of color due to older infrastructure.
The current LCRI introduces crucial revisions aimed at minimizing lead exposure from drinking water sources. These include lowering the lead action level from 15 to 10 parts per billion and requiring the replacement of lead pipes within a decade. In contrast, the previous administration's 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) included provisions that reduced public health protections.
Attorney General Kaul is joined by attorneys general from California, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia in this effort.