Lead and Copper Rule Revisions: A Case Study in Identifying and Tracking Lead Water Service Lines with ArcGIS Field Maps

Abstract

The United States Environmental Protection Agency enacted the Lead and Copper Rule in 1991 to protect community water system consumers from exposure to lead and copper. The rule ensures levels of lead and copper in drinking water systems are below action levels. If the action level is exceeded, additional steps are required from water utilities to control corrosion in water systems. Significant quantities of lead in naturally occurring water sources are rare. However, with the use of certain plumbing fixtures containing brass, bronze or lead pipe prior to the Lead and Copper Rule of 1991, these materials can dissolve, flake or be found as small particles posing serious health risks. Corrosion can be a serious problem and is controlled through chemical treatment of source water. Considering events of the Flint, Michigan water crisis, revisions to improve the existing rule have been promulgated. The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions published on January 15, 2021, require service line material inventories, public outreach, and equitable replacement of lead service lines. Compliance is October 16, 2024. This case study includes a GIS based approach to identify and document all service line materials within the Ute Water District in Grand Junction, Colorado. GIS data architecture, methods and procedures utilizing ArcGIS software particularly ArcGIS Field Maps are shown to improve workflows, reduce time and redundancy over traditional paper record keeping methods. Data collection will be ongoing due to the large service area; however, a subset area will be analyzed within this study.