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Lead and Copper Rule

Your Water. Your Community. Your Role.

Safe drinking water does not happen by accident. It takes your water system, your state, and you working together. The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) is a federal regulation that requires water systems to regularly test tap water in homes for lead and copper. These metals usually enter water from pipes, solder, and fixtures inside a home, so testing at the tap is the clearest way to monitor water quality. This rule was designed to protect your health and the health of everyone in your community.

Have questions already? Jump to our FAQs. Curious who 120Water is? Visit our Knowledge Center.

It starts with you

One sample ripples further than you think.

Your Sample

Your home

Protect what matters most. Know what's in the water your household drinks every day.

Your street

Help your neighbors. Homes on your street often share similar pipes, so your result helps paint their picture too.

Your neighborhood

Safeguard the local supply. Samples from your area show how water travels through local pipes.

Your community

Strengthen water quality for all. Every returned kit helps your water system protect everyone it serves.

The basics, at a glance.

What the Lead and Copper Rule is, and where your home fits in.

The rule

The LCR is a federal regulation that applies to every community water system in the United States, because every community deserves safe drinking water.

The goal

Protect the health of everyone in your community by regularly monitoring lead and copper levels in tap water, so any concerns are found and addressed early.

Why your home

Your home was selected as part of a state-approved sampling pool. Each home represents a different point in the pipes that deliver water across your community. Your sample can only come from your tap, so your participation matters.

Why it repeats

Water quality can change over time as pipes age and treatment is adjusted. Regular monitoring helps your water system spot changes early and act quickly.

Testing is free

Your kit, return shipping, and lab analysis are provided at no cost to you. If your results show elevated levels, your water system will explain what they mean and the steps you can take next.

Did you know?

Depending on how many people they serve, water systems collect samples from as few as 5 to as many as 100 homes each monitoring period. Every returned kit adds to a complete picture of water quality across your community.

Why it matters.

Water leaving the treatment plant typically has very little or no lead. Lead can enter water from service lines, solder, and fixtures as it travels to and through a home. Testing at your tap shows what's actually in the water you drink.

Health effects of lead, from the EPA

"There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks."

Source: U.S. EPA, Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (40 CFR 141.85)

How it works.

Here's what to expect, from your kit's arrival to your results.

1Your kit arrives. Inside are your sample bottles, instructions, a Chain of Custody form, and a prepaid return label.
2Let the water sit. Water needs to sit unused in your pipes for at least 6 hours. Overnight works best.
3Collect your sample. Use the cold water tap in your kitchen or bathroom that you drink from most. Fill the bottles in the order your instructions show.
4Complete the form. Fill out and sign your Chain of Custody form, including the date and time you collected.
5Seal and send. Place the bottles and form back in the box, put the prepaid label over the original, and mail it.
6Get your results. A certified lab analyzes your sample using EPA-required methods, and your results arrive by mail with an explanation of what they mean.

 

Tips for an accurate sample.

✓Collect first thing in the morning, before anyone in your home uses water.
✓Use cold water only, and don't run the tap before you fill the first bottle.
✓Leave the aerator (the small screen at the tip of the faucet) in place.
✓Mail your kit back the same day if you can.

Important: filters and water treatment

Your sample must come from a tap without a filter or water treatment device. Samples collected through a filter or treatment system can't be accepted and will need to be collected again.

Check for faucet-mounted filters, refrigerator or pitcher filters, under-sink systems, water softeners, and whole-home treatment systems.

If every tap in your home is filtered or treated, contact 120Water at (800) 674-7961 ext. 3 or sampling@120water.com before you collect.

Know More. Do More.

Still have questions? Find answers about testing your homes tap water in our FAQs, or visit the Knowledge Center for trusted EPA and CDC resources.

LCR FAQs Knowledge Center