The following are direct links to the revised lead and copper rule FAQ. To search/browse all questions, see the main FAQ page.
Public Health
- How can I be exposed to lead in drinking water?
- What are the health benefits of lead service line replacement?
- Is there an additional risk of lead exposure when water meters are replaced?
- Is it safe for me to cook, shower/bathe, do laundry, wash dishes, etc., using water with elevated lead levels?
- What do results of blood lead testing mean?
- If I was exposed to lead in my drinking water, will it show up in my blood sample?
- What are the health impacts of being exposed to lead?
- What are the health impacts of being exposed to lead in drinking water?
- Does a low lead level mean that the amount of lead in the water is safe?
- What populations (age groups) are at highest risk for lead exposure from lead in drinking water?
- When should I get my child's blood lead level tested?
- Who should I contact to have my child’s blood tested for lead?
- What do I do if my child tests high for lead?
- Does bottle-feeding versus breast-feeding make a difference for exposing infants to lead?
- Are there people who are more susceptible to adverse health effects from copper?
- What do different lead levels in drinking water mean?
- What are the sources of lead in drinking water?
- "How do I know if I have a lead service line? Will my water supply notify me?”
- What does the Lead and Copper Rule require my water supplier to do to minimize my exposure to lead in my drinking water?
- If Lead and Copper Rule compliance samples were collected in my home, what do my sampling results tell me about lead exposure in my home?
- Once a year, water supplies provide a consumer confidence/water quality report to all customers. What information is in the report and what will I learn about my water supply’s compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule?
- What steps should I take to reduce my risk of exposure to lead in drinking water?
- What alternative sources of water are available if I am concerned about lead in my drinking water?
- What is point-of-use treatment?
- Who can help with reducing water lead levels in my house?
- I’m a renter and I want to know more about the potential for lead in my water – what should I ask my landlord?
- Why is this called the Lead and Copper Rule when we are only talking about lead?
- After all lead service lines are replaced, will my community still treat drinking water with corrosion control?
- Why is it important to get my lead service line replaced?
- What will happen at my house when my lead service line is replaced?
- Why does the new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule require water supplies to replace entire lead service lines at the water utility's expense?
- If I live in a rented house or in a rental unit that is not considered a public water supply, what is my landlord’s responsibility if elevated lead levels are found in my water?
Compliance
- What is a lead service line?
- What are the sources of lead in drinking water?
- Are there any characteristics to my home that could indicate that I have a lead service line?
- "How do I know if I have a lead service line? Will my water supply notify me?”
- What does the Lead and Copper Rule require my water supplier to do to minimize my exposure to lead in my drinking water?
- Who is responsible for implementing and enforcing the provisions of the revised Michigan Lead and Copper Rules?
- What does our water supply need to communicate to customers to be in compliance with the Michigan LCR?
- What is an asset management plan, and how do communities use it to replace lead service lines?
- What is corrosion control, and why do we use it for drinking water?
- My water utility asked to collect lead and copper water samples from my home. Should I be concerned about my water because they are asking to test it? What should I do?
- The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requires regular lead and copper tap water sampling. How many samples are required and how are sampling sites selected in the Michigan LCR?
- How are lead and copper compliance samples collected under the new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule?
- When will I receive my Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) compliance sample results for my house? How do I read the results letter?
- If Lead and Copper Rule compliance samples were collected in my home, what do my sampling results tell me about lead exposure in my home?
- Once a year, water supplies provide a consumer confidence/water quality report to all customers. What information is in the report and what will I learn about my water supply’s compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule?
- How are lead compliance sampling results used? What is the 90th percentile and what does it mean?
- What steps should I take to reduce my risk of exposure to lead in drinking water?
- What alternative sources of water are available if I am concerned about lead in my drinking water?
- What is point-of-use treatment?
- What is point of entry (POE) treatment?
- When should I consider POU treatment or filtration?
- How do I use a POU or POE treatment system?
- How do I know if my POU or POE water treatment device is certified? What does certification mean?
- Are POU and POE devices effective for reducing lead in drinking water?
- Who can help with reducing water lead levels in my house?
- I’m a renter and I want to know more about the potential for lead in my water – what should I ask my landlord?
- What is my water supplier required to do if my home has elevated lead in the water?
- Why do galvanized service lines need to be removed if they were connected to a lead service line? Is the galvanized plumbing in my house a source of lead in drinking water?
- What is a partial lead service line replacement? Why are partial lead service line replacements banned in the new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule?
- Why is this called the Lead and Copper Rule when we are only talking about lead?
- After all lead service lines are replaced, will my community still treat drinking water with corrosion control?
- How is my municipality prioritizing whose lead service lines are being replaced first?
- Why is it important to get my lead service line replaced?
- What will happen at my house when my lead service line is replaced?
- What do different lead levels in drinking water mean?
- How much will lead service line replacement cost?
- Why does the new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule require water supplies to replace entire lead service lines at the water utility's expense?
- How was lead service line replacement handled prior to the Michigan LCR revision?
- If I live in a rented house or in a rental unit that is not considered a public water supply, what is my landlord’s responsibility if elevated lead levels are found in my water?
Finance
- How are water systems (and water main replacements) typically funded?
- How much will lead service line replacement cost?
- How will the new Rule impact my water rates?
- Is state or federal funding or financing going to be available?
- Which other states are fully replacing lead service lines, and how are they funding it?
- Would water supplies be replacing lead service lines without the new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule? How much of the lead service line replacement cost is due to the new requirements?
- Who pays to replace lead service lines that run under private property?
- Why does the new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule require water supplies to replace entire lead service lines at the water utility's expense?
- How was lead service line replacement handled prior to the Michigan LCR revision?
- Can the same state/federal-level funds that allow for whole-house lead remediation be used to fund the private portion of the lead service line?
- If I live in a rented house or in a rental unit that is not considered a public water supply, what is my landlord’s responsibility if elevated lead levels are found in my water?
- Is there any requirement to disclose known lead service lines at transfer of property? Whose responsibility?
- What is an asset management plan, and how do communities use it to replace lead service lines?
Science
- Is there an additional risk of lead exposure when water meters are replaced?
- What do results of blood lead testing mean?
- What are the health impacts of being exposed to lead in drinking water?
- What do different lead levels in drinking water mean?
- Why do some homes have high lead results and others low, when they both have lead service lines?
- Who can help with reducing water lead levels in my house?
- Why is this called the Lead and Copper Rule when we are only talking about lead?
- After all lead service lines are replaced, will my community still treat drinking water with corrosion control?
- How is my municipality prioritizing whose lead service lines are being replaced first?
- Why is it important to get my lead service line replaced?
- What will happen at my house when my lead service line is replaced?
Risk Reduction
- Is it safe for me to cook, shower/bathe, do laundry, wash dishes, etc.,using water with elevated lead levels?
- I have more questions about water filters
- Who can help with reducing water lead levels in my house?
- Why is this called the Lead and Copper Rule when we are only talking about lead?
- After all lead service lines are replaced, will my community still treat drinking water with corrosion control?
- How is my municipality prioritizing whose lead service lines are being replaced first?
- Why is it important to get my lead service line replaced?
- What will happen at my house when my lead service line is replaced?
Basic
- How can I be exposed to lead in drinking water?
- What are the health benefits of lead service line replacement?
- Is it safe for me to cook, shower/bathe, do laundry, wash dishes, etc.,using water with elevated lead levels?
- What are the health impacts of being exposed to lead?
- What do results of blood lead testing mean?
- What are the health impacts of being exposed to lead in drinking water?
- What do different lead levels in drinking water mean?
- What is a lead service line?
- Are there any characteristics to my home that could indicate that I have a lead service line?
- "How do I know if I have a lead service line? Will my water supply notify me?”
- What does the Lead and Copper Rule require my water supplier to do to minimize my exposure to lead in my drinking water?
- Who is responsible for implementing and enforcing the provisions of the revised Michigan Lead and Copper Rules?
- What is corrosion control, and why do we use it for drinking water?
- My water utility asked to collect lead and copper water samples from my home. Should I be concerned about my water because they are asking to test it? What should I do?
- The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) requires regular lead and copper tap water sampling. How many samples are required and how are sampling sites selected in the Michigan LCR?
- How are lead and copper compliance samples collected under the new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule?
- When will I receive my Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) compliance sample results for my house? How do I read the results letter?
- Once a year, water supplies provide a consumer confidence/water quality report to all customers. What information is in the report and what will I learn about my water supply’s compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule?
- How are lead compliance sampling results used? What is the 90th percentile and what does it mean?
- What steps should I take to reduce my risk of exposure to lead in drinking water?
- What alternative sources of water are available if I am concerned about lead in my drinking water?
- Who can help with reducing water lead levels in my house?
- I’m a renter and I want to know more about the potential for lead in my water – what should I ask my landlord?
- What is my water supplier required to do if my home has elevated lead in the water?
- What is a partial lead service line replacement? Why are partial lead service line replacements banned in the new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule?
- Why is this called the Lead and Copper Rule when we are only talking about lead?
- How is my municipality prioritizing whose lead service lines are being replaced first?
- Why is it important to get my lead service line replaced?
- What will happen at my house when my lead service line is replaced?
- Why does the new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule require water supplies to replace entire lead service lines at the water utility's expense?
- How was lead service line replacement handled prior to the Michigan LCR revision?
- If I live in a rented house or in a rental unit that is not considered a public water supply, what is my landlord’s responsibility if elevated lead levels are found in my water?
- Is there any requirement to disclose known lead service lines at transfer of property? Whose responsibility?