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The process of adding chlorine to water to clean the water and kill the bacteria, parasites and viruses.

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Main River

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Biggest Source

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Distillation is a process that relies on evaporation to purify the water. The first step is heating the water until it starts to boil. The water will turn into a vapor, which is then cooled and goes through pipes that are at lower temperatures. This vapor that is cooled turns back into liquid form.

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Filtration eliminates both large compounds and small, dangerous contaminants that cause diseases with a simple and quick filtration process. Since filtration does not deplete all the mineral salts, water that has been filtered is considered healthier compared to water purified using other methods.

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Clean water should be brought to boil and left at rolling-boil for 1-3 minutes. Easiest and cheapest way to purify water

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P&G Water Purifier Packets

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Source: EPA

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On this page:

Rule Summary
40 CFR Part 141 Subpart I
Lead and copper enter drinking water primarily through plumbing materials. Exposure to lead and copper may cause health problems ranging from stomach distress to brain damage.

In 1991, EPA published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water. This regulation is known as the Lead and Copper Rule (also referred to as the LCR). Since 1991 the LCR has undergone various revisions, see the Rule History section below.

The treatment technique for the rule requires systems to monitor drinking water at customer taps. If lead concentrations exceed an action level of 15 ppb

or copper concentrations exceed an action level of 1.3 ppm in more than 10% of customer taps sampled, the system must undertake a number of additional actions to control corrosion.

If the action level for lead is exceeded, the system must also inform the public about steps they should take to protect their health and may have to replace lead service lines under their control.

Rule History

The Lead and Copper Rule can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Long Term Revisions

EPA's 2021 Revised Lead and Copper Rule better protects children and communities from the risks of lead exposure by better protecting children at schools and child care facilities, getting the lead out of our nation's drinking water, and empowering communities through information.

Short Term Revisions

In 2007, EPA revised the Lead and Copper Rule to enhance implementation in the areas of monitoring, treatment, customer awareness, and lead service line replacement. The update also enhanced public education requirements and ensured drinking water consumers receive is: meaningful, timely and useful information. These changes are also known as the "Short-Term Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule."

Minor Revisions

In 2004, EPA published minor corrections to the LCR to reinstate text that was inadvertently dropped from the rule during previous revisions.

In 2000, EPA published revisions to the LCR to address implementation issues arising from legal challenges to the 1991 rule. The revisions also streamlined and reduced monitoring and reporting burden.

(66 pp, 497 K, Federal Register Notice of Final Rule, January 12, 2000(PDF)About PDF)

(3 pp, 31 K, Lead and Copper Rule Minor Revisions: Fact Sheet (PDF)About PDF) EPA 815-F-99-010, December 1999

1998 Notice of Data Availability on the minor revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule

Fact Sheets supporting the 2000 revisions

(2 pp, 27 K, Using DWSRF Set-Aside Funds for Capacity Development (PDF)About PDF) EPA 816-F-00-11, March 2000

The 1991 Rule

In 1991, EPA published the LCR to minimize lead and copper in drinking water. The rule replaced the previous standard of 50 ppb, measured at the entry point to the distribution system.

The rule established a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) of zero for lead in drinking water and a treatment technique to reduce corrosion of lead and copper within the distribution system.
Lead and Copper Rule Historical Documents
Additional Resources

Quick Reference Guides

These documents provide a simple and straightforward description of the Rule. It includes deadlines and requirements for public water systems (PWSs) and states, and information on monitoring requirements.

Drinking Water Regulations Under Development or Review

You will need the free Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more. If you need help accessing these PDF documents below, please contact EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Water Supply Guidance Manual

EPA periodically issues memorandums which clarify drinking water policies and regulations. These policy memos have been collected into a water supply guidance (WSG) manual which is made available to states and public water systems to assist in implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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On this page: 40 CFR Part 141 Subpart I Lead and copper enter drinking water primarily through plumbing materials. Exposure to lead and copper may cause health problems ranging from stomach distress to brain damage. In 1991, EPA published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water.

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Lead < 15 ppb

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Life straw