Q: What is meant by, the action level in the drinking water system is too high?

The action level for lead is the level at which water systems must take additional steps to reduce consumers’ exposure to lead from drinking water.  For a water system serving fewer...

The action level for lead is the level at which water systems must take additional steps to reduce consumers’ exposure to lead from drinking water.  For a water system serving fewer than 50,000 people exceeding the action level means that the system must perform treatment studies and treat the water to make it less corrosive to lead and copper in plumbing materials.  A water system that exceeds the action level must also distribute materials to its consumers notifying them of the risks of exposure to lead and the steps that they can take to reduce their exposure to lead.  Finally, a system that exceeds the action level must begin a program to replace 7 percent of the portions of lead service lines they control each year. A system exceeds the  action level for lead if test results show levels of lead above the 15 parts per billion (ppb) action level in >10 percent of samples collected  The action level is set based on what studies show can be achieved by corrosion control treatment.  The health-based Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) for lead in drinking water is zero.