The Kleinfelder Blog

Learn how Kleinfelder is achieving compliance and safeguarding communities through our lead service line inventories

You may have been hearing a lot about lead lately – specifically, lead in drinking water and rules and revisions related to such.

Lead water service lines were commonly installed throughout the early 1900s. Today, the risks of lead plumbing are an increasing concern because lead and copper enter our drinking water primarily through these plumbing materials – and exposure to lead and copper may pose health risks ranging from stomach problems to neurological issues.

In 1991, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a regulation to control lead and copper in drinking water, known as the Lead and Copper Rule (also referred to as the LCR — learn more here).

Since its inception, the LCR has undergone revisions via the LCRR and forthcoming LCRI. The latest updates aim to enhance public health protection and bring about several significant alterations and deadlines that water suppliers need to be aware of for compliance. This includes the requirement for all community water systems in the country submit a lead service line inventory to identify and replace lead within their systems.

As the EPA proposes stricter regulations to safeguard drinking water quality, Kleinfelder is actively providing tailored solutions to water clients throughout the U.S.

One such project is in the City of San Diego, where we’re conducting field investigations and desktop research to assist in preparing a lead service line inventory. This inventory encompasses service line materials on the customer (private) side of the water meter, including all building types with a drinking water service for the City.

“This project is important for the community since lead can be toxic to people and pets and most homeowners are unaware of the situation,” said Cole Kinkade, a Kleinfelder engineer involved in the project. “We’re providing a beneficial service for residents and allowing them to learn more about the engineering practices going on around them. I think transparency is important when aiming to build strong relationships with the communities around us.”

Ciara Atencio, another engineer on the project, noted that this project is crucial for environmental justice: “Ensuring that access to safe water is not dictated by one’s zip code is so important,” she said. “We can’t expect the average citizen to know how to test for lead, or even know that it’s something they need to check for.”

She also added, “It’s not every day that we get to leave our desks and interact with the people whose lives are directly affected by our projects.”