LEAD AND COPPER RULE
The Metropolitan Commission (MetCom) is committed to providing safe drinking water to our customers, and that means being proactive in adhering to the requirements of the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). At MetCom, we have a long history of proactively protecting our customers from lead. Because of this, the drinking water we produce for our 28 water systems is well below the maximum lead levels set forth by the EPA.
To maintain excellent water quality, MetCom is implementing a “Get The Lead Out” program to educate you on the LCRR, how lead exposure can affect your health, and how you can reduce lead exposure at home.
So, take time today to learn more about lead, how MetCom is taking action, and how you can help protect your family.
EPA Lead and Copper Rule Background Information
​
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Lead and Copper Rule was revised with the intent of providing greater protection of public health by reducing human exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can result in a myriad of adverse health effects, especially in infants and children.
​
The Lead and Copper Rule has undergone various revisions since its inception in 1991. The most recent revisions set forth in 2021 mandate that all water utilities plan to test for lead more frequently at schools and childcare, develop an inventory of the water service lines within their system, and create a plan to replace lead service lines if they are found.
​
In addition, the revisions (LCRR) require all community water systems to develop an inventory to identify the material(s) of service lines connected to the public water distribution system. Both
the publicly owned and the privately owned sides of the service lines must be included in the inventory. All service lines, regardless of the usage of the water and activity status, must be identified.
​
MetCom has a longstanding history of keeping the drinking water we produce
well below the maximum lead levels set forth by the EPA. We publish the
results of our water quality testing in Consumer Confidence Reports on our
website or scan QR code (at right).
​
MetCom’s “Get The Lead Out” program will address these requirements and help keep our community safe from lead in drinking water.
Health Effects of Lead in Drinking Water
​
If you are concerned about your family’s risk of being exposed to lead, the EPA recommends using a pitcher filter or point-of-contact water filter certified by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited certified to reduce lead and getting your tap water tested for lead. A list of certified drinking water laboratories is located here. You can also get your water tested for lead by the Metropolitan Commission by contacting Customer Service at (703) 737-7400 extension (102). Test kits cost $45 for the first kit and may be less for every following kit should you wish to perform any additional sampling. Once your order is processed, you will receive a test kit with instructions for how to take the water sample and return it to MetCom for testing.
​
We are here to help! Contact us today at lead.and.copper@metcom.org if you have questions on this important topic.
Feel free to also contact the Maryland Department of the Environment Water Supply Program at 410-537-3729 or via email at water.supply@maryland.gov if you have any questions.