Michigan Adopts Tough New Lead Rule

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently announced the completion of Michigan’s new Lead and Copper Rule.  Motivated by the crisis in Flint, and recognizing the long road to correcting deficiencies in the existing EPA rule, Michigan decided that they needed to move on their own to adopt stronger standards.  The Michigan rule lowers the lead action level to 12 ppb by 2021.  To address lead service lines, the rule requires water systems to conduct a preliminary inventory by 2020, begin replacing lead lines by 2021, including those on the private side, and collect a second tap sample at homes served by lead service lines to help characterize the contribution of lead from the service line. In addition, the rule establishes a household advisory level of 10 ppb that allows targeting of households with higher lead levels.  The rule also creates a Water Advisory Council to advise the Department of Environmental Quality on measures to improve public awareness and education about lead.

To read the complete new Michigan rule go here.  To find specific lead and copper requirements look at pages 69, 99 and 178.