Further Protections to Guard Against Potential Lead Contamination

Long Island, NY (January 10, 2022)—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of updating its regulations to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and the Long Island Water Conference would like all Long Islanders to know what will result of these changes. The LCR revisions provide for better insights into potential lead and copper contamination throughout the United States. Here in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Long Island water providers continuously meet or surpass all current regulatory requirements to ensure our water is not corrosive and accelerating the leaching of any lead materials.

“The drinking water all Long Islanders receive from their water providers is well within the strict water quality standards established by our health regulators,” said Kevin Durk, Chairman of the Long Island Water Conference. “When elevated levels of lead are found in a residents’ home, it stems from either a water service line or other lead-containing plumbing fixtures. While the vast majority of lead-based materials have been phased out and replaced over the years, some residents may still unknowingly have them in their home. Anyone with questions about their water quality or if they have specific concerns about lead, they are encouraged to contact their local water supplier.”

Service lines, which are the underground pipe that brings water from the water main in the street to a residents’ home are the responsibility of the homeowner or the water supplier depending on your water provider. Several decades ago, it was common practice for home builders to install either lead service lines or galvanized service lines with lead gooseneck connections or joints. To help alleviate issues stemming from the potential of lead, water providers have had successful corrosion control measures in place for more than 30 years to prevent the material from leaching into drinking water.

As part of the revisions to the EPA’s LCR, which are expected to be finalized in October of 2024, water providers will be embarking on various education and awareness campaign about what residents can do to limit lead exposure in their home should they have a lead service line or other lead-based fixtures. In addition, water providers will be embarking on an aggressive data-collection initiative to better understand what materials have been used for water service lines throughout their service territories.

“The presence of lead service lines on Long Island are few and far between as so many have been upgraded over the last couple of decades. However, there are some still out there and we need to identify them,” added Chairman Durk. “Long Islanders can expect to hear from their water providers throughout the year as we collectively begin this massive undertaking to map and track the materials of every single service line in the region.”

For more information about how to limit exposure to lead, please visit https://www.epa.gov/lead

Residents unsure of how to contact their water provider are encouraged to visit -www.liwc.org/findyourwaterprovider

About the Long Island Water Conference

The LIWC has been committed to providing pure and plentiful water for the Long Island community since 1951. The LIWC represents over 50 water suppliers regionally and aims to provide and maintain an adequate and safe water supply today, while anticipating the water concerns of future generations. LIWC members provide more than 375 million gallons of clean water daily. For more information, please visit www.liwc.org.