Lead and Copper
NR 809 safe drinking water standards update
NR 809 Lead and Copper Update
The state's safe drinking water code NR 809 will be revised to include updates to lead and copper standards.
The intent of proposed rule DG-04-24 is to update ch. NR 809, Wis. Adm. Code to be consistent with the federal 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), the federal 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) and other federal laws addressing lead and copper in public drinking water.
The LCRR went into effect on Dec. 16, 2021, with a compliance date of Oct. 16, 2024. The LCRI went into effect on Dec. 30, 2024, with a compliance date of Nov. 1, 2027. To avoid the inefficient adoption of multiple rules over a short period of time, the EPA recommends that states group the promulgation of the LCRR and LCRI requirements into a single action.
Rulemaking Timeline
NR 809 Lead And Copper Rulemaking Timeline
Spring 2024 | ||
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Spring - Summer 2024
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Fall/Winter 2024 - Spring 2025
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Spring - Summer 2025
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Summer - Fall 2025
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Dec. 2025 - Mar. 2026
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Spring - Summer 2026
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Summer/Fall 2026
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Stakeholder Meetings
Past stakeholder meetings
| Meeting Date | Location | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 28, 2025 | Remotely via Teams | |
| Mar. 14, 2025 | WI State Natural Resources Building and Remotely | |
| Jan. 30, 2025 | WI State Natural Resources Building and Remotely |
Rulemaking Procedures
Rule change process, public input and timeline
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) creates and revises administrative rules to implement statutes enacted by the Wisconsin State Legislature [exit DNR]. Administrative rules have the full force and effect of law.
Rulemaking is an extensive process and there are many internal steps [PDF] that the DNR and the NRB must follow during a rulemaking effort. Public participation is a critical component of agency rulemaking, and there are numerous opportunities to participate in the DNR rulemaking process. For permanent rules, the entire process generally takes about 31 months from initiation to effective date of rule revisions.
Public Comment Opportunities
Public meetings and hearings
There will be multiple opportunities for anyone interested in the process to provide input at public meetings. Notifications will be sent out via GovDelivery and links to these meetings will be posted on this webpage when available.
Upcoming public hearing
| Date & Time | Location | Information and resources |
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| Sept. 17, 2025 10:00 AM | Virtual meeting (Zoom) |
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Resources
Resources
There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed) and young children. Some of the health effects on infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks.
Lead can enter the body through drinking water that has passed through service lines and building plumbing that contains lead. While lead is no longer used in the construction of public water systems, some public water systems in Wisconsin still have lead service lines or galvanized service lines, which are pipes made of iron or steel and dipped in zinc. Galvanized service lines pose a concern if they were ever downstream of a lead pipe because they may have adsorbed lead. If a galvanized service line is currently or ever was downstream of a lead service line, it is called a galvanized requiring replacement service line.
The proposed rule includes updates to Wisconsin’s drinking water regulations in ch. NR 809, Wis. Adm. Code, affecting community water systems and non-transient non-community water systems. The updates include changes to lead and copper sampling, service line inventory and replacement, corrosion control treatment, and public education and outreach. The proposed rule includes requirements to remove and replace lead and galvanized requiring replacement service lines. The updates will also require community water systems to conduct lead testing at schools and licensed child care facilities.
For more information about lead in drinking water and about updates to the lead and copper requirements for public water systems in Wisconsin, please explore the following resources:
Drinking Water and Lead
- Drinking Water and Lead - information about lead in drinking water from the Wisconsin DNR
- El plomo en el agua potable - information about lead and drinking water in Spanish
- Txhuas Nyob Hauv Tej Dej Haus - information about lead and drinking water in Hmong
EPA Guidance for Lead Monitoring Programs in Schools and Child Care Facilities
- EPA’s 3 Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water - strategies for schools and child care facilities to reduce lead levels in drinking water
EPA Resources on the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI)
- EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) - an overview of LCRI with links to fact sheets
- EPA’s Technical Fact Sheets and Other Supporting Materials - detailed information about components of the LCRI
Additional Information
- EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) Service Line Inventory Requirements - information about initial service line inventory requirements under the LCRR and related ongoing requirements (including inventory public accessibility requirements and requirements for consumer notifications of known or potential lead service lines)