EPA Releases New Guidance to Reduce Lead Exposure in Drinking Water, Protect American Children

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance to help drinking water systems that are working to keep their 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. Reducing exposure to lead-a powerful neurotoxin that is especially dangerous to children-advances the Trump EPA's commitment to Making America Healthy Again.

"The agency's efforts to reduce lead in drinking water started under the first Trump Administration and continue today under Administrator Zeldin's leadership," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer. "EPA is committed to supporting local water systems as they identify and remove lead pipes. Today, we are providing practical, clear, and plain language guidance clarifying existing federal requirements. This action complements federal funding and technical assistance in a holistic approach."

EPA is releasing two documents, Access Tips and Service Line Inventory Tips, to provide practical 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.

EPA is taking on lead in drinking water holistically, including prioritizing collaboration, practical implementation, and communication. The agency recently published a revamped lead website, found at epa.gov/lead, including a new StoryMap about Lead and Children's Health. The streamlined website allows parents and caregivers, contractors, health care professionals, and other users to quickly find critical 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, which was launched in President Trump's first term as a blueprint for reducing lead exposure through collaboration among federal agencies. 

Releasing this new resource is yet another example of the Trump EPA working to ensure that all Americans can rely on clean and safe drinking water. They complement the agency's robust technical assistance effort - Real Water TA. Real Water TA focuses on hands on assistance for communities and water systems working to address water infrastructure challenges or funding needs. EPA also supports state and local efforts to upgrade and maintain water infrastructure with funding opportunities. This year, EPA announced nearly $3 billion in funding for lead pipe identification and removal.

Background

There is no safe level of lead. Lead pipes, when present, are the primary source of lead in drinking water. EPA is committed to using every tool available to protect all Americans from lead in drinking water. The 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) builds on the strong foundation of the first Trump Administration's 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions to achieve this goal. First promulgated in 1991, the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) regulates lead and copper in public drinking water systems.