Water System Resources
Reminders
- All community and non-transient non-community water systems must complete and submit an Initial Lead Service Line Inventory by October 16, 2024, even if all service lines are identified as non-lead. DDW will notify water systems by email confirmation to systems when the inventory submission is approved.
- See the Public Education and Notification section below for requirements, templates, and example statements.
- Systems with lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown service lines must notify persons served by those lines of potential lead risk within 30 days of inventory submission approval
- Systems with only non-lead service lines in their inventory may publish a written statement instead of making their inventory publicly accessible.
- Water systems are to keep their current tap sampling plans until the LCRR comes into effect on October 16, 2024.
Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI)
Division of Drinking Water (DDW) Resources
Inventory Information and Templates
Each community and non-transient non-community water system must maintain the required inventory information described in the FAQ and inventory instructions below.
- LCRR Lead Service Line Inventory FAQ (updated Mar 2023)
- LCRR Lead Service Line Inventory Presentation (Oct 2022)
- LCRR Lead Service Line Inventory Methods (updated Dec 2023)
DDW's inventory template covers the minimum amount of information required for LCRR compliance. Water systems are not required to use the DDW template and may choose an alternative format for their inventory such as a custom spreadsheet. DDW strongly recommends water systems to format their spreadsheet so that it follows the DDW Inventory Template.
- Inventory Template (xlsx) (updated Aug 2023)
- Inventory Template (xlsx) (compatible with Excel versions prior to 2021)
- Lead Service Line Inventory Instructions (updated Jul 2023)
Training Videos for Small Water Systems
Rule requirements and tips for inventory development for small water systems. Each video is approximately 10 to 15 minutes long.
- Overview of Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (video)
- Starting the Private Side Inventory (video)
- Using the DDW Inventory Template (video)
ASDWA Resources
The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) is a professional association that gives state administrators national representation for drinking water programs.
- ASDWA Lead Service Line Symposium (Feb 2022)
- ASDWA Initial LSLI Lessons and Information Gaps Webinar (Oct 2023)
- ASDWA papers, communications, webinars, and resources for the LCRR
US EPA Guidance
- Guide for Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory (Aug 2022)
- Guide for Developing and Maintaining a Service Line Inventory for Small Entity Compliance (Jun 2023)
Summary of Inventories
| Inventory | CA LSLI | Initial LSLI | Baseline LSLI (Proposed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required by | CA Health and Safety Code section 116885 | Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) | Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) |
| Due | July 1, 2018 | October 16, 2024 | 3 years after final rule (~2027) |
| Service Line Portion | System side only* | System AND customer side | System AND customer side |
| Notes | Required for community water systems only | Include location identifier; Must be publicly accessible; Updated annually | Street address and connector information required |
*Typically, this is the utility-owned portion which includes the pipe, tubing, and fittings connecting a water main to an individual water meter or service connection.
Lead Service Line Replacement
Requirements for lead service line replacement and replacement plans are subject to change with the publication of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). More information on service line replacement will be released when the final rule is published.
Lead Service Line Assistance
Need help completing the inventory or replacement? Technical assistance for inventories and funding for service line replacement is available to community water systems and nonprofit non-community systems:
- LSL Inventory Technical Assistance Request Form
- LSL Replacement Funding Program Application packages (see appendix R)
For more information, please visit the Division of Financial Assistance Lead Service Line Replacement Funding Program page or contact DFA-LSLR@waterboards.ca.gov.
SB427 Lead Service Line Requirement
Resources for lead service line inventory and replacement under Senate Bill No. 427 (SB427) are available at the Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative website. For more information, please visit the Health and Safety Code 116885 User Service Line Inventory page.
Public Education and Notification
Notification Templates
Tier 1 – P90 Lead Action Level Exceedance
Starting on October 16, 2024, systems must be prepared to notify consumers within 24 hours of discovering a 90th percentile level (P90) lead action level exceedance (0.015 mg/L). Templates for Tier 1 public notifications will be posted when available.
Customers served by lead, GRR, or unknown service lines
Pursuant to 40 CFR 141.85(e), water systems must provide public notification to customers served by lead, galvanized requiring replacement, and/or lead status unknown service lines within 30 days after DDW’s approval of the completed inventory. More information and templates regarding this notification will be released later.
Consumer Confidence Reports
Public water systems are required to provide information to their customers and consumers about the quality of their drinking water in their Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR). Updates to the mandatory lead and copper health effects language in the CCR will be required under the LCRR and LCRI.
Publicly Accessible Inventory
Water systems must make their lead service line inventory publicly accessible (and available online for systems serving over 50,000 persons). Water systems with only non-lead service lines in their inventory may publish a written statement instead of a publicly accessible inventory. The written statement must also include a general description of the methods used to determine service line materials. Instructions to access the service line inventory or the non-lead statement must be included in water systems’ annual CCR.
- Non-lead Statement – All Service Lines Verified
- Non-lead Statement – Stratified Random Sampling
- Non-lead Statement – Interpolation
- Non-lead Statement – Interpolation, Systems with Less Than 1,500 Services
- Non-lead Statement – Other Method(s) Used
US EPA Guidance
Implementing the Lead Public Education Provision
- LCR Public Education Guide for Community Water Systems
- LCR Public Education Guide for Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems
Recommended Tap Sampling Procedures
Contact Us
Email:
Please submit questions and inventory workplans to the LCRR Unit at DDW-LSLReports@Waterboards.ca.gov
Office Hours
The LCRR Unit hosts virtual office hours for water systems each week on Wednesdays from 9am – 10am and Thursdays from 2pm – 3pm. Staff will be available to answer questions about developing and submitting the LCRR Initial Lead Service Line Inventory. Sign up for a session using the LCRR Office Hour Jotform. Note: The session will close early if there are no attendees 15 minutes after the start time.
Language Access Services
To request services in any language, click on “Request Language Services” to open the language access form.
The form is available in English, Español (Spanish), Tagalog, 中文 (Simplified Chinese), 한국인 (Korean), Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi).
