Overview
Charlotte Water has embarked on a multi-year, comprehensive program to reduce lead contamination in the drinking water of Charlotte residents, following federal guidelines.
In 1991, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water, called the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). In 2021, the EPA updated and revised its Lead and Copper Rule (LCRR), strengthening regulations for reducing lead from drinking water to better protect children and communities.
LCRR mandates that water utilities nationwide increase tap water testing and create a service line database to check for the presence of lead pipes in water systems, and in elementary schools and daycares. Service lines carry water from the public water main into homes and buildings.
Charlotte Water has been monitoring its water for lead and copper since 1991 and has always met EPA standards. Click here to learn more about Charlotte Water’s water quality efforts.
Charlotte is a relatively young city, with much of its growth happening in the past three decades – well after the original ban on lead plumbing legislation was passed in 1986. Fortunately, our infrastructure is newer and includes more current water service lines and materials that do not produce lead in drinking water.