Teamwork key to achieving LCRR compliance for small public water departments

OEHS Lead Service Line Inventory System Support

Under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Lead Copper Rule Revised (LCRR) requirements, public water systems are required to provide a service line inventory. Small water departments struggle to handle this task and often need help from outside consultants. The West Virginia Department of Health Office of Environmental Health Services (OEHS) brought us on board to help West Virginia public water systems (PWS) serving communities fewer than 1,000 people. Our team took on the responsibility for aiding 95 of these small communities.

Working alongside Global Environmental Consulting (GEC), TruePani, and the West Virginia Community Action Partnership’s Rural Community Assistance Program, we used a toolbox of various LCRR resources to manage and track efforts and offer a range of assistance. The project involved contacting each PWS to gain their support and initiate the process. This was challenging as some communities only had one staff member, who might only work part time and was already overwhelmed with responsibilities. With customer lists in hand, we began data collection, records review, and field investigations.

GEC provided a cloud-based inventory database software application that is responsive, secure, and user-friendly and enables water systems to efficiently manage their inventories. We assisted the various PWS with creating inventories and verifying data for state and federal submittals. We also provided analytics for prioritizing replacement, investigating unknowns, mapping, communication, and full-scale replacement program planning.

Joint efforts such as OEHS’s help small communities meet federal requirements for a future without lead.