Benefits

The LCRR of the EPA is a crucial step in protecting public health by reducing exposure to lead in drinking water. This regulation establishes a series of stricter and more proactive measures which water systems must comply with to identify, manage, and evaluate opportunities for replacement of service lines with lead. The following are highlights among the main benefits of LCRR:

1. Identifying and Replacing Service Lines with Lead
   The inventory and possible replacement of service lines with lead is the central idea of the LCRR. This regulation requires water systems to gradually identify all lines that may contain lead and prioritize their replacement, ensuring that they continue to provide safe water for communities.
2. Greater Transparency and Communication with the Public
   The LCRR requires water systems to publish the results of service line inventories in an accessible manner, allowing residents to know the status of the pipes that supply water to their homes.
3. Improvements in Lead Monitoring and Control
   The LCRR establishes new standards to reinforce the protection, frequency, and monitoring methods for lead in water. PRASA carries out the necessary treatment processes to achieve compliance with the standards established in the regulations, including the Puerto Rico Department of Health, and to ensure that the water served to our customers is of quality. PRASA analyzes 91 chemical and microbiological parameters of drinking water, which is equivalent to over 82,151 laboratory tests performed annually on water.

Importance and Long-Term Benefits
The LCRR not only establishes a regulatory framework for the removal of lead in service lines, but it also generates tangible benefits for public health and the well-being of communities. Replacing lines with lead will improve drinking water quality and reduce risks associated with prolonged exposure to metals. In addition, the transparency and public education required by the LCRR reinforce trust in water systems and ensure that citizens are better informed about the state of their drinking water.

In short, the implementation of the LCRR represents a coordinated effort to eliminate a significant public health risk in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the United States. The support of local and federal agencies, as well as collaboration with engineering and health experts, ensure that this process is carried out effectively and with the best possible results for the health and well-being of the population.