Lead and Copper Rule

The purpose of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) is to protect public health by minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking water. Lead and copper enter drinking water mainly from corrosion of lead and copper containing plumbing materials. The rule establishes action levels (AL) for lead and copper based on a 90th percentile level of tap water samples. An action level exceedance is not a violation but triggers other requirements to minimize exposure to lead and copper in drinking water, including water quality parameter monitoring, corrosion control treatment, source water monitoring/treatment, public education, and lead service line replacement. All community water supplies and nontransient noncommunity water supplies are subject to the LCR requirements.

General Information

Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act 399  
Michigan Safe Drinking Water Rules - Supplying Water to the Public (PDF) 

Types of Public Information Required Under Act 399 (PDF)

• Summary (PDF)
• General Infographic (PDF)
• Detailed Infographic (PDF)
• Strike-bold Version of 2018 Rule Changes (PDF)

Lead and Copper Tap Sampling

Sample Site Selection

Site selection criteria were updated in 2018 to place more emphasis on sites with lead service lines. Review the updated sample site selection criteria to confirm the sites in your sampling pool still meet proper tiering criteria.

• Sample Site Selection Criteria (PDF)

Lead and Copper Sampling Plan (Sampling Pool)

Water supplies must submit to EGLE a Sampling Plan that contains a pool of properly tiered lead and copper tap sampling sites.

• Lead and Copper Sampling Plan Form (PDF)
• Lead and Copper Sampling Plan Form (Word DOCX)
• ​​​​Steps for Completing the Lead and Copper Sampling Plan (PDF)

Tap Sampling Checklist

To avoid missing steps or deadlines, use this checklist as you prepare for and conduct lead and copper tap sampling and report results to EGLE.

• Lead and Copper Tap Sampling Checklist  (PDF)

Sampling Instructions

Samples MUST be collected according to very specific instructions.  Water supplies may use the following instructions to inform operators and/or homeowners on proper sample collection

Sites WITHOUT lead service lines

• Sampling Instructions Non LSL(PDF) 
• Sampling Infographic Non LSL(PDF)
• Sampling Video Non LSL

Sites WITH lead service lines

• Sampling Instructions LSL (PDF)
• Sampling Infographic LSL (PDF)
• Sampling Video LSL

Lead and Copper Report and Consumer Notice Certificate

• Form A — Supplies WITH lead service lines: Form A (PDF) and Form A (Word)
• Form B — Supplies WITHOUT lead service lines: Form B (PDF) and Form B (Word)

Water Quality Parameter (WQP) Tap Sampling

Use these WQP report templates to report sampling results to EGLE. Choose the appropriate template based upon whether or not your system has corrosion control treatment.

• Water Quality Parameter Report for Systems WITH Corrosion Control Treatment (Word)
• Water Quality Parameter Report for Systems WITHOUT Corrosion Control Treatment (Word)

Distribution System Materials Inventory (DSMI)​

April 2019 - Preliminary Distribution System Materials Inventory Memo (PDF)

• Preliminary DSMI Reporting Form (PDF)
• Preliminary DSMI Reporting Form (Word)

Training Materials

1. LCR Overview and Changes (PDF)
2. LCR Distribution System Materials Inventory (PDF)
3. LCR Service Line Replacement (PDF)
4. LCR Site Tiering and Sampling Pool (PDF)
5. LCR Monitoring (PDF)
6. LCR Reporting (PDF)

Additional information

• Please visit Michigan.gov/MILeadSafe for information on exposure to lead in drinking water, the latest drinking water test results and more.
• EGLE's Lead and Copper in Drinking Water for other reference materials for water supplies and the public.
• ​For more information on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule, including the final rules and the Quick Reference Guide visit the Web site of the U.S. EPA at https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-and-copper-rule