Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)

Coupling local historical records with the latest mapping technology, your address was selected for the field investigation because it is located where lead service lines may have been used at the time of its residential development/construction.

Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Code of Ordinances Section 94-6 allows LUS to inspect the water service. The field investigation will provide:

• Increased Awareness: Customers will have access to review service line materials.
• Improved Safety: If lead service lines are present, LUS has a replacement plan to reduce the risk of lead exposure.
• Public Information: This field investigation requires limited excavation on the LUS and customer sides of the water meter. As such, customers will have access to data about the materials used in service lines throughout our community. If a service is determined to be Lead, Galvanized Requiring Replacement, or Unknown, LUS must post this information on our website.

A service line will be replaced only if it is identified in the inventory. That information will not be available until the 400 field investigations are complete, and the data is processed, which will be before the October 16, 2024 deadline.

• Water Utility Reports: LUS will update the public as the project progresses.
• EPA Website: Visit the EPA’s website for information on Lead and Copper Rule Revisions and updates.

The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions are an update to federal regulations designed to enhance the protection of public health by reducing lead and copper levels in drinking water. On November 30, 2023, the EPA announced the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). The first phase of implementation requires every public water system to establish an initial field inspection to inventory service lines within the system. The final rule has not been published yet, but a summary of the proposed rule can be found here.           

The service line inventory is a requirement under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, which mandates water systems to compile and maintain detailed records of all service lines within their distribution systems. This includes identifying whether service lines are made of lead, copper, or other materials. The initial field investigations will include 400 addresses around the Lafayette area.

• Health Protection: Identifying service lines helps target areas for replacement, reducing the risk of lead contamination in drinking water.
• Transparency: Provides consumers with clear information about the type of pipes serving their homes and communities.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensures water systems meet regulatory requirements and address potential sources of contamination. LUS’s water treatment plan helps prevent the water running through distribution lines from picking up lead particles, if present.

• Type of Material: Information on whether service lines are made of lead, copper, galvanized, plastic, or other materials.
• Location: Geographic and address-specific details of where service lines are installed.
• Condition: Notes on the condition and age of the service lines, if available.
• Replacement Status: Information on whether service lines have been replaced or are scheduled for replacement. A customer with a lead service line, galvanized line requiring replacement (GRR), or service line of an unknown material will be notified by LUS within 30 days of the service inventory completion. Replacement will be as mandated by the EPA and Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). LUS will also offer information about reducing lead in drinking water and its health effects. In addition, LUS will send an annual notification to this customer until line replacement is complete.