Environmental Justice Tracker

EJ Tracker Update

EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) Found EPA Should Better Prepare to Notify Public of Lead in Drinking Water

Last updated:

June 10, 2024

Statute

SDWA, Other Statute

Agencies

EPA

Actions

Report

EPA’s Inspector General launched an audit of the Office of Water to determine whether the office, regions, primary agencies and public water systems are notifying the public “promptly” after lead is detected at higher levels in drinking water, and whether EPA properly allocated funds to replace lead service lines in “disadvantaged communities” under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. The OIG recommended that EPA’s Office of Water establish a plan for implementing public notification requirements, including developing procedures to receive and track lead action level exceedances.