Lead & Copper Rule
Osawatomie's Water Quality
The City of Osawatomie takes great pride and care in treating our community's drinking water. Due to diligent testing and monitoring, there is no concern with lead and copper in the water that is produced and delivered to our customers. Our water treatment and distribution team works hard every day to produce and provide high quality drinking water for all residents and commercial customers, and a history of our quality can be found in the Consumer Confidence Report that is published yearly.
The Lead & Copper Rule and Upcoming Revisions
The Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) is a federal regulation established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect public health and reduce exposure to lead and copper in drinking water. It sets action levels and requirements for monitoring and control. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes and brass or bronze faucets and fixtures. Learn more about the Lead and Copper rule at the EPA's lead and copper page and information about the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) coming in 2024.
While the City of Osawatomie is meeting all current regulations, amendments are on the horizon for the nationwide Lead & Copper Rule. These amendments add new requirements related to lead and galvanized service lines on the private property side. Please be aware that with these new rules and regulations, you may be asked to sample your water or visually inspect your water service lines to gather information for the City’s inventory of public and private service lines in compliance with this rule.
What is the City doing about the new rule revisions?
The City of Osawatomie is working to identify all lead service lines, both public and private, by October 2024 as required by LCR. To help develop, implement, and manage the necessary administrative and technical aspects of this new rule, City officials published a public Request for Proposals (RFP) in September 2023. After review, Osawatomie City Council approved awarding the service contract to 120 Water. Working with 120 Water, City technicians are surveying properties and compiling the required inventory. Residents may notice City workers or 120 Water staff members in their yards or marking service lines. Workers may photograph your house number as part of the inventory process.
What Can I Do?
Identify if you have lead service lines: This can be done by contacting a licensed plumber or using the EPA’s guide “Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead | US EPA.” When prompted, report your findings via our upcoming public survey or submission portal.
Stay informed: Learn about lead by watching this short YouTube video “Together, Let’s Get the Lead Out”. Keep up to date with the latest news about Lead & Copper by visiting KDHE’s Lead and Copper rule page.