Copper Rule Research Articles

A Sensor for Detecting Aqueous Cu2+ That Functions in a Just-Add-Water Format.

There is growing concern around the negative health impacts associated with contamination of drinking water by harmful chemicals. Technology that enables fast, cheap, and easy detection of ions and small molecules in drinking water is thus important for reducing the incidence of these negative health impacts. Here, we describe a sensor for detecting Cu2+ in water that provides colorimetric results in 15 min or less and functions in a just-add-water format. The sensor contains cheap reagents including salts, buffer, oxidant, chromogen, surfactant, and optionally a chelating agent. The sensor is assembled and lyophilized for shelf-stability and field-deployment. Rehydrating the sensor with water containing Cu2+ results in chromogen oxidation and blue color formation to visually indicate the presence of Cu2+. The sensor demonstrates high selectivity toward Cu2+ against other metal cations, functionality in field samples, shelf-stability, and can be tuned to activate at different Cu2+ threshold concentrations. This sensor thus has the potential to meet a variety of needs, such as point-of-need testing for Cu2+ to ensure water supplies meet health guidelines, such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule.

Investigating pH Swings at Denver Water

Denver Water used a variety of water treatment and chemistry approaches to resolve fluctuating pH levels and meet its Lead and Copper Rule variance requirements.

Developing Service Line Inventories: Guidance for Utilities With Limited Lead Lines

Key TakeawaysIn the United States, all community and nontransient noncommunity water systems are required to submit an inventory describing the location and makeup of all service lines in their service areas.While the material can be designated as lead, galvanized requiring replacement, nonlead, or unknown, the last two designations require additional steps to be taken in the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI).Some utilities have few or no lead service lines, and this inventory requirement, issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), may be burdensome to those utilities.This article demonstrates the methodology in EPA's proposed LCRI for verification of construction material, and an alternate validation procedure is proposed.

Estimating the impact of the proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

AbstractLead in drinking water can lead to serious health effects, including neurodevelopmental issues and heart disease. In December 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which lower the Lead and Copper Rule's (LCR's) lead action level (AL) from 15 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb and require both first‐ and fifth‐liter sampling and 90th percentile compliance calculations based on the highest lead levels at sites with lead service lines. A methodology for estimating the likelihood a system will have an AL exceedance (ALE) under the LCRI was developed using Michigan LCR compliance data and applied to national LCR compliance data. Findings were compared to EPA's estimates, indicating EPA may have underestimated the percent of smaller systems (serving 3300) with ALEs and overestimated the percent of larger systems (serving > 10,000), thus underestimating costs and overestimating the benefits of this rulemaking.

The use of lead isotopes for determining sources of lead in drinking water

AbstractA series of paired samples were analyzed to determine if high‐precision lead isotopic fingerprinting could help identify the source of lead in plumbing materials and drinking water. Samples were obtained of plumbing materials (lead service lines, copper pipe with lead solder, galvanized materials, and brass fixtures) from water utilities across the United States. Lead samples were taken from the material itself, from scales, and in some cases from associated water. The lead samples were analyzed to determine the ratios of the four stable lead isotopes present. The results enabled the identification of relationships between various components and further aided in the identification of the source of lead found in water and in pipe scales. Isotopic fingerprinting, as demonstrated in this study, could be used to determine if a galvanized line is a galvanized line requiring replacement (GRR) under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (USEPA, 2023).

Guidance for Residents Addressing Copper Problems in Drinking Water: Opportunities and Challenges.

Residents and their pets may experience aesthetic or health concerns resulting from elevated copper in their drinking water. The United States Environmental Protection Agency Lead and Copper Rule focuses on addressing systemwide corrosion issues, but gaps in the rule leave some municipal water consumers and residents with private well water vulnerable to high cuprosolvency. We developed guidance to aid residents in understanding, detecting, and addressing cuprosolvency issues in their drinking water. Three types of at-home test kits for copper and one for pH were determined to be accurate enough (R 2 > 0.9 (lab, based on average values from n = 5 replicates each) and >0.7 (field)) to detect concerns related to high cuprosolvency and inform selection of intervention options. Case study results indicate that, although water treatments such as increasing pH on-site may be effective, long-term treatment (>36 weeks or permanently) may be needed to maintain reductions in cuprosolvency. A decision tree is provided to help residents and citizen scientists navigate these concerns for both public water systems and private wells.

Drinking water quality parameters in Africa and the United States: Implications for public health

This study provides a comparative overview of drinking water quality parameters in Africa and the United States, highlighting their implications for public health. Water quality encompasses physical, chemical, biological, and radiological characteristics, with significant variations influenced by source conditions and treatment processes. In Africa, inadequate infrastructure, pollution, and limited resources result in high levels of microbiological contaminants and chemical pollutants, leading to a high burden of waterborne diseases. Pathogens such as Escherichia coli and protozoan parasites like Cryptosporidium and Giardia are prevalent, contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality. Chemical contamination, including nitrates, pesticides, and heavy metals, exacerbates these issues. Conversely, the United States benefits from advanced water treatment technologies and stringent regulations, yet challenges persist. Issues such as lead contamination from aging pipes, emerging pollutants like PFAS, and localized contamination events continue to pose risks. Although regulatory frameworks like the Safe Drinking Water Act and proposed enhancements to the Lead and Copper Rule aim to mitigate these problems, maintaining and upgrading infrastructure remains critical. This study highlights the need for targeted interventions and policy improvements. For Africa, investing in infrastructure and treatment technologies is crucial, while in the U.S., addressing lead and emerging contaminants requires ongoing vigilance and investment. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of interventions, understand long-term health impacts, and develop sustainable solutions for enhancing global water quality and public health. Keywords: Drinking Water Quality, Africa, United States, Microbiological Contaminants, Chemical Pollutants, Public Health, Waterborne Diseases.

What's New With Old Galvanized Iron Pipe? A Toolbox for Utilities

Key TakeawaysBecause it can accumulate lead in its scale, galvanized iron pipe (GIP) poses compliance challenges in the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) and proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI).To prepare for the LCRR/LCRI, utilities can use the GIP corrosion control toolbox outlined here, including targeted sampling, scale analysis, and corrosion control treatment testing.GIP investigation and management can improve water quality, protect public health, and minimize aesthetic discoloration issues.The proposed LCRR/LCRI tap sampling changes mean that GIP could contribute to Action Level exceedances for the first time.

Considering a Utility-Centric Framework Based on "Minimum Orthophosphate" Criteria for Mitigation of Elevated Cuprosolvency in Drinking Water.

Gaps in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) leave some consumers and their pets vulnerable to high cuprosolvency in drinking water. This study seeks to help proactive utilities who wish to mitigate cuprosolvency problems through the addition of orthophosphate corrosion inhibitors. The minimum doses of orthophosphate necessary to achieve acceptable cuprosolvency in relatively new copper pipe were estimated as a function of alkalinity via linear regressions for the 90th, 95th, and 100th percentile copper tube segments (R2 > 0.98, n = 4). Orthophosphate was very effective at reducing cuprosolvency in the short term but, in some cases, resulted in higher long-term copper concentrations than the corresponding condition without orthophosphate. Alternatives to predicting "long-term" results for copper tubes using simpler bench tests starting with fresh Cu(OH)2 solids showed promise but would require further vetting to overcome limitations such as maintaining water chemistry and orthophosphate residuals and to ensure comparability to results using copper tube.

Got Lead in Your Water? The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law May Be Poised to Help

Humans have no known safe level of exposure to lead. Blood lead levels have devastating consequences, especially for children, affecting their brain development and almost every organ in their bodies. Various government organizations have enacted measures to combat lead contamination in drinking water and its dangerous human health consequences by replacing lead service lines. At the federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, which requires states to replace lead service lines. At the state level, governments have programs to fund the replacement of lead service lines in their communities, but these funds often fall short of their needs. While these efforts have reduced the problem of lead contamination in drinking water, many of the remaining lead service lines in the U.S. are found buried under aging cities, often with low-income populations. Litigation brought by public interest groups has spurred faster replacement, but this has only been deployed in a handful of cities. The greater leverage point is increased federal funding to eradicate the problem. In 2021, the U.S. Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden. It included a historically large increase in supplemental funds for the replacement of lead service lines over five years. In early 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a campaign to get lead out of water and accelerate the pace of the solutions. This article examines the scope of the problem of replacing lead service lines in states in the Great Lakes region, the cost estimates of financing their replacement, and the decisions states need to make now to access and effectively spend federal money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to remove lead from the water of the nation’s disadvantaged communities.

Estimating impacts of LCRR's fifth-liter sampling and find-and-fix requirements on large water systems

This study demonstrates a data driven method for estimating fifth-liter water lead levels from first-liter water lead data.

Predictive Modeling in Service Line Inventory Development

Key TakeawaysAcceptance of predictive modeling as a verification method in inventories complying with the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions is determined by individual states, many of which accept this approach.Predictive modeling is an accurate, time‐saving, economical way to reduce unknowns in the inventory and streamline lead service line replacement.For the best outcomes, the performance and reliability of predictive models must be evaluated carefully and from multiple perspectives.

Impact of corrosion inhibitors on antibiotic resistance, metal resistance, and microbial communities in drinking water.

Corrosion inhibitors, including zinc orthophosphate, sodium orthophosphate, and sodium silicate, are commonly used to prevent the corrosion of drinking water infrastructure. Metals such as zinc are known stressors for antibiotic resistance selection, and phosphates can increase microbial growth in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS). Yet, the influence of corrosion inhibitor type on antimicrobial resistance in DWDS is unknown. Here, we show that sodium silicates can decrease antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs), while zinc orthophosphate increases ARB and ARGs in source water microbial communities. Based on controlled bench-scale studies, zinc orthophosphate addition significantly increased the abundance of ARB resistant to ciprofloxacin, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, and vancomycin, as well as the genes sul1, qacEΔ1, an indication of resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds, and the integron-integrase gene intI1. In contrast, sodium silicate dosage at 10 mg/L resulted in decreased bacterial growth and antibiotic resistance selection compared to the other corrosion inhibitor additions. Source water collected from the drinking water treatment plant intake pipe resulted in less significant changes in ARB and ARG abundance due to corrosion inhibitor addition compared to source water collected from the pier at the recreational beach. In tandem with the antibiotic resistance shifts, significant microbial community composition changes also occurred. Overall, the corrosion inhibitor sodium silicate resulted in the least selection for antibiotic resistance, which suggests it is the preferred corrosion inhibitor option for minimizing antibiotic resistance proliferation in DWDS. However, the selection of an appropriate corrosion inhibitor must also be appropriate for the water chemistry of the system (e.g., pH, alkalinity) to minimize metal leaching first and foremost and to adhere to the lead and copper rule. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health concern across the globe and was recently labeled the silent pandemic. Scientists aim to identify the source of antibiotic resistance and control points to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance. Drinking water is a direct exposure route to humans and contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria and associated resistance genes. Corrosion inhibitors are added to prevent metallic pipes in distribution systems from corroding, and the type of corrosion inhibitor selected could also have implications on antibiotic resistance. Indeed, we found that sodium silicate can minimize selection of antibiotic resistance while phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors can promote antibiotic resistance. These findings indicate that sodium silicate is a preferred corrosion inhibitor choice for mitigation of antibiotic resistance.

Removing Michigan's Lead Water Service Lines: Economic Savings, Health Benefits, And Improved Health Equity.

Michigan's recently revised Lead and Copper Rule requires water utilities to inventory existing water service lines by 2025 and replace all lead-containing lines by 2041. This article summarizes a cost-benefit analysis using new inventory data on the number of lead service lines in the state, the projected cost of their replacement, and the estimated lifetime benefits from reduced lead exposure. Replacing 423,479 lead service lines would reduce lead exposure for 420,800 newborns and result in $3.24billion in future benefits (compared with replacement costs of $1.33billion). This would generate net savings of $1.91billion and a societal return on investment of $2.44 per dollar invested. These estimates are conservative and include only quantified benefits for newborn children in Michigan for the period 2020-60. More than 153,100 of the children benefiting would be non-White (of whom 78,400 would be Black or African American), and 106,900 would be in households with incomes below the federal poverty level. Sensitivity analyses show that accelerating the replacement pace would increase the societal return on investment. This primary prevention-driven policy has the potential to reduce childhood lead exposure and improve health equity.

A better cost:benefit analysis yields better and fairer results: EPA’s lead and copper rule revision

When conducted on a societal level, cost-benefit analysis (CBA) can indicate policies that best allocate scarce public resources. Done incompletely, CBA can produce spurious, biased results. To estimate the potential health benefits of EPA's recent Lead and Copper Drinking Water Rule Revision (LCRR), we used EPA's exposure, compliance, and effect coefficient estimates to monetize 16 of the health endpoints EPA has determined are causally related to lead exposure. In addition, we monetized one health endpoint that EPA has used elsewhere: preterm birth. We estimated that the total annual health benefits of the LCRR greatly exceed EPA's estimated annual costs: $9 billion vs $335 million (2016$). Our benefit estimates greatly exceed EPA's benefit estimates.There are also nonhealth benefits because lead generally contaminates drinking water through the corrosion of plumbing components that contain lead. The LCRR therefore has 2 components: reducing how corrosive the water is and limited replacement of lead pipes. Reducing corrosion damage to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and residential appliances that use water yields significant annualized material benefits also: $2–8 billion (2016$). Effectively, the health benefits are free. Finally, while actual exposure data are limited, the available data on lead-contaminated drinking water exhibits known risk patterns, disproportionately burdening low-income and minority populations and women. This economic analysis demonstrates that to maximize national benefits and improve equity, the LCRR should be as rigorous as possible.

A literature review of bench top and pilot lead corrosion assessment studies.

Bench top and pilot lead corrosion studies are gaining more interest, considering revisions and upcoming improvements to the Lead and Copper Rule. This literature review identified studies ranging from simpler month(s)-long bench top dump-and-fill stagnant water tests (coupon tests/standing pipe tests) to more complicated year(s)-long intermittent flow pilot studies (recirculating pipe loops/once through pipe rigs). With increasing complexity in design and operation, studies more closely approximated real plumbing conditions (e.g., by incorporating harvested lead pipes and intermittent flow regimes) at increased cost, footprint, and duration. Comparison of bench top and pilot designs (in terms of lead test piece age/dimensions/configuration/replicates, study duration, sample collection, and other factors) can assist drinking water utilities, consultants, academics, and others to select a design that matches their needs and constraints. No matter the choice, surrogate systems cannot replace actual system water testing and are best complemented by other corrosion assessment tools.

Follow EPA Guidance for Water Utility Service Line Inventories

The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions require water systems to compile an inventory of service line materials by Oct. 16, 2024. A recently published document from the US Environmental Protection Agency provides utilities with detailed guidance on creating and maintaining an inventory.

Management of point‐of‐use and point‐of‐entry for regulatory compliance: Survey of state administrators

AbstractThe USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions allow the use of distributed treatment approaches such as point‐of‐use (POU) and point‐of‐entry (POE) treatment for systems with 10,000 connections or less as a compliance strategy. However, this poses an opportunity for the USEPA to reevaluate system size recommendations for distributed treatment. The current research uses online surveys and semi‐structured interviews (SSIs) to highlight the general sentiment of state regulators managing POU/POE devices and inquiries. Analysis of the 43 survey responses and 13 SSIs revealed that most state regulators described systems of approximately 30–50 connections as the most successful. Resident cooperation, operation and maintenance, monitoring, and the actual implementation of distributed treatment approaches were repeatedly listed as the greatest concerns. As the use of distributed treatment continues to expand, the water sector must devote research efforts to quantitatively determining the drivers of success as well as highlighting clear indicators of potential failure.

Zap the Lead Problem: Cost-effective and Immediate Electrochemical Pipe Scale Accelerator

The Electrochemical Pipe Scale Accelerator (EPSA) rapidly reduces lead (Pb) concentration in water by up to 99% by electroplating an insoluble and non-conductive lead phosphate or aluminum oxide scale. Twenty-Two million Americans, 120 million Europeans, and 500,000 Canadian households are at risk of lead-contaminated water. Unfortunately, traditional scale passivation can take up to years to form and deteriorate under a chemical change in water (Flint, Michigan, 2014). Replacing pipes can be expensive, costing $250/foot, and the U.S. government up to 47 billion dollars to replace all pipes. The objective was to engineer a low-cost and rapid device that could reduce Pb concentration below the “Lead and Copper rule.

Sharing Lessons Learned on Lead Service Line Inventories

Water utilities should act now to inventory their service line materials and ensure compliance with the US Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.