LSL Policy Lowdown: 2026 Mid-year Snapshot

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Written By Erica Galante-Johnson

Starting November 2027, the 10-year countdown for water utilities to complete lead service line (LSL) replacement under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) begins. To support this goal through faster and more cost-effective replacement, the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) tracks scalable LSL policies and strategies at the federal, state, and local levels. This snapshot highlights major LSL policy trends across the country between January–July, 2026.

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Want to learn more?

Visit EPIC's LSL Policy Lowdown page, LSL Replacement Initiative page, and our Lead Innovation Hub.

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Erica Galante-Johnson

Erica is the Senior Lead Service Line Replacement Policy Analyst at EPIC. Prior to joining EPIC in 2023, Erica worked in the New York State Assembly in the office of the Health Committee Chair, Amy Paulin. Erica holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Biology from the City University of New York and a bachelor’s degree from Universidad Simón Bolívar in Venezuela. As a scientist, she has been involved in numerous interdisciplinary research projects addressing issues operating at the interface of environmental conservation and human health, in both academic and non-profit settings.

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