The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first established the Lead and Copper Rule in 1991 to reduce human exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. Before the rule was implemented, there was a federal ban on the use of lead components in public drinking water systems that was enacted in 1986. EPA has revised this rule multiple times since 1991 and most recently enacted the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), which became effective in December 2021.
Both lead and copper can be harmful to human health if ingested at elevated levels. Of the two metals that were commonly used in drinking water pipes and fixtures, lead is the most serious. It can be harmful at lower levels and accumulate in the human body over time. Because of this bioaccumulation potential, infants, young children, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to its adverse effects. While risks vary based on individual circumstances and the amount of water consumed, no concentration of lead is considered "safe" and, therefore, these regulations seek to reduce and eliminate this exposure.
To facilitate this reduction and elimination of lead and copper exposure pathways in drinking water, the new LCRR requires, in part, that water systems complete a Lead Service Line (LSL) Inventory and provide a Revised Lead and Copper Sample Site Plan if any LSL are identified and not already accounted for in current sampling sites. If any lead pipes are identified, a subsequent LSL Replacement Plan will be created to prioritize a schedule for the removal and replacement of any remaining LSLs on campus. The deadline for completing the LSL Inventory and submitting the associated information to SCDHEC is October 16, 2024.
As stated, Clemson University Utility Services has implemented a plan that has replaced most of the known LSLs on campus and the completion of this inventory will ensure that all LSLs have been discovered, documented and a plan is in place to replace them. For lines that have been discovered but have not been replaced to date, a lining has been installed on the interior of these lines to prevent the corrosion of the metal and potential leaching of lead into the drinking water.
Clemson University is committed to supplying clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to all faculty, staff, students and visitors on our campus. To support this mission, we, in conjunction with SCDHEC, routinely monitor the drinking water for a variety of chemical and microbial contaminants. The university purchases water from Anderson Regional Joint Water System (ARJWS) who provides the treatment of the water withdrawn from Lake Hartwell. ARJWS does additional water quality testing at its Lake Hartwell treatment facility before it is pumped into the university's system. A copy of their latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is available for download. As a part of the treatment process, ARJWS provides pH adjustment and adds an orthophosphate to prevent corrosion of the metal pipes and fittings, that could result in lead and copper leaching into the drinking water. As the water is fed from ARJWS to the campus water system, the orthophosphate coats the interior of all metallic pipes providing protection from corrosion. ARJWS also continuously monitors the corrosion potential at the water treatment plant lab to verify their corrosion control process.
We have been sampling the campus drinking water for lead and copper since 1993, when it is was initially required by SCDHEC and EPA. Initial sampling was conducted on an annual basis; however, because our sampling showed that we did not have any sampling sites that exceeded the lead and copper action levels, we now conduct monitoring every 3 years as of 2005. The most recent lead and copper testing was completed in 2023 and Clemson University's water system again had no sample sites that exceeded action levels. The next round of sampling will take place in 2026.
Lead in drinking water comes primarily from the corrosion of materials and components that may contain this metal and are associated with service lines and premise plumbing, not from the water source itself. The university has and continues to take every step possible to remove any lead lines and fittings as well as to monitor the overall quality of the drinking water on campus through routine sampling. If you are concerned about any potential lead exposure from the drinking water, there are some easy steps you can take:
For more information regarding the revised Lead and Copper Rule, see the EPA Fact Sheet.
The following resources can supply additional information on lead exposure and drinking water: