From Inventory to Impact: Helping Wisconsin Water Systems Tackle Service Line Inventories

Since 2022, Jacobs has worked with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to support community public water systems in meeting service line inventory requirements under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR).

Through this collaboration, Jacobs is helping public water systems:

• Develop and update service line inventories
• Compile and assess records to identify service line and connector materials
• Create procedures to verify service line materials
• Prepare consumer notification materials and templates
• Resolve inventory-related violations

To support this work, Jacobs collaborated with the Freshwater Collaborative and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to provide hands-on training to students from ten universities across the state. These students helped local water systems develop their initial inventories - contributing directly to lead reduction efforts and gaining valuable field experience.

"We're delivering strategic value to Wisconsin communities by helping systems navigate complex regulatory requirements and build resilient, lead-free infrastructure," says Jacobs Project Manager and Senior Technologist Cathy Wunderlich. "This work is about more than compliance - it's about building trust, improving infrastructure and protecting future generations."

Jacobs and the DNR will share insights from the technical assistance program at the Wisconsin AWWA Annual Conference this fall. Don't miss the presentation, "Developing a Service Line Inventory that Checks all the Boxes: Transforming Challenges into Triumphs" on September 10, 2025.

Preparing for what's ahead: Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI)

The EPA's final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) builds on the LCRR and includes significant new requirements for public water systems. Compliance begins November 1, 2027, and while the regulatory landscape may continue to evolve, systems that start preparing now will be in the best position to meet deadlines, secure funding and protect public health.

Key LCRI provisions include:

• Replacing all lead and galvanized requiring replacement service lines within ten years
• Identifying all unknown service line materials by the replacement deadline
• Adding connector materials in the service line inventory
• Validating non-lead service lines within seven years
• Lowering the lead action level from 15 to 10 micrograms per liter
• Updating compliance sampling protocols and monitoring requirements
• Testing for lead at elementary schools and licensed childcare facilities within five years
• Expanding public education and communication efforts

These updates represent a major step forward in reducing lead exposure in drinking water and protecting communities across the U.S.

Jacobs' support and resources

With more than 30 years of experience supporting lead and copper compliance, Jacobs helps utilities across North America improve drinking water quality, strengthen public health protections and meet regulatory requirements.

Explore our resources below to learn more about how we can support your service line inventory and LCRI planning.