Glossary

Industry terms and definitions.

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  • a

  • Affordability A household's capacity to pay for essential water services, including drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater, without undue hardship or compromising other essential needs. It is a growing concern in the US, affecting millions of households, especially those with lower incomes or facing... Read more
  • Allotment The portion of the federal Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) federal capitalization grant that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allocates annually to each state under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). These allotments are determined using formulas based on data from... Read more
  • Asset Management The practice of managing infrastructure capital assets to minimize the total cost of owning and operating them while delivering high levels of service. The water sector has widely adopted this management framework as a means to pursue and achieve sustainable infrastructure.

  • b

  • Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) An unofficial name for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), enacted in November 2021. This law provides significant federal funding for a wide range of infrastructure projects, including drinking water, transportation, energy, and broadband. Under IIJA, the U.S. Environmental... Read more

  • c

  • Community-Based Organization (CBO) An organization rooted in and led by the community it serves, recognized for its trustworthiness and effectiveness in representing the interests of local residents. CBOs provide services such as education, community engagement, and convening, and are characterized by deep resident involvement.... Read more
  • Community-Based Public-Private Partnership (CBP3) A partnership between a local government and a private entity with the primary goal of providing high-quality, cost-effective services. CBP3 models may provide communities with an alternative for the funding and finance, design, construction, and operation and maintenance of water projects, and... Read more
  • Corrosion Control Treatment (CCT) The practice of managing water quality chemistry and corrosiveness by various treatment techniques, which can include Alkalinity and pH adjustment or the addition of phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors to drinking water. CCT was mandated in the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) to reduce lead... Read more

  • d

  • Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Generally referring to communities that face economic hardships and may struggle to afford necessary investments in drinking water infrastructure, in the context of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Each state has the flexibility to define what constitutes a DAC based on local... Read more
  • A financing program established by the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to support local water infrastructure projects. Administered by individual states, the DWSRF provides funding through grants and forgivable loans, and financing through loans to help communities meet... Read more

  • e

  • Environmental Finance Center (EFC) Organizations vetted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver targeted technical assistance to local governments, states, Tribes, Territories, and non-governmental organizations to protect public health, safeguard the environment, and advance environmental justice. Supported... Read more

  • f

  • Full Replacement An instance in which both sides of the service line, the public and private lengths of pipe, are removed and replaced with non-lead material. According to the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) of 2024, only full lead service line replacement (LSLR) counts towards mandatory replacements.

  • g

  • Galvanized Pipe Galvanized pipe refers to steel pipes that have been dipped in a protective zinc coating to prevent corrosion and rust. The zinc coating contains lead that can leach into drinking water when corroded. Galvanized pipes can also capture lead from upstream sources and subsequently release captured... Read more
  • Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR) A galvanized service line that was either ever downstream of a lead service line (LSL) or is currently downstream of a service line classified as “status lead unknown service line" under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). Galvanized service lines downstream of lead goosenecks, pigtails,... Read more
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) A system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and visualize spatial or geographic data. GIS integrates location data (such as coordinates, addresses, or boundaries) with descriptive information to help users understand patterns, relationships, and trends in a geographic... Read more
  • Gooseneck, Pigtail, and Connector Short sections of lead piping—typically 2 feet or less—have historically been used to connect the water main to the rest of the service line leading to a property, commonly installed before the 1986 ban on lead service lines (LSLs) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). While the Lead and... Read more

  • i

  • A federal law enacted in November 2021 provides substantial funding for a range of infrastructure projects across several federal agencies. Key investment areas include drinking water, transportation, energy, and broadband internet infrastructure. The IIJA provided $43 billion to the U.S.... Read more
  • Intended Use Plan (IUP) A document that State Revolving Fund (SRF) agencies submit annually to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlining how the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) will be used during a fiscal year. Once the EPA has reviewed and approved the IUP, the federal funds may then be... Read more
  • Invasive Solutions Methods that involve excavation or other physical intervention to access a service line or other pipeline, typically to identify material type or replace the asset. In the context of lead service line replacement (LSLR), invasive solutions may also include techniques that require accessing the... Read more

  • l

  • A set of enhancements to the 2021 Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), enacted on October 8, 2024. The LCRI requires all water systems nationwide to fully replace lead service lines (LSLs) by 2037, lowers the lead action level to 10 parts per billion (ppb), and strengthens requirements for... Read more
  • A federal regulation published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1991 to control lead and copper levels in drinking water. The LCR established a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) of zero for lead in drinking water and implemented treatment techniques aimed at reducing... Read more
  • An update to the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) that went into effect on December 16, 2021. The LCRR introduced key changes to the federal regulations, including a new trigger level (TL) for lead that requires additional planning, monitoring, and treatment efforts, a mandatory lead inventory... Read more
  • Lead Pipe An informal term used to describe lead service lines (LSLs).
  • Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) The process of identifying, locating, and documenting the material of all service lines within a water system. Mandated by the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—and expanded under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI)—this inventory aims to locate all lead and galvanized lines... Read more
  • A service line composed partially or in its entirety of lead. Often, this term will also be used to include service lines categorized as Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR).
  • The removal and replacement of service lines and pipe fittings made from lead, or in some cases, service lines qualifying as Galvanized Requiring Replacement (GRR).

  • n

  • Non-Invasive Solutions Methods used to inspect or repair service lines without the need for extensive excavation. These approaches often include technologies that can identify pipe materials from above ground or use trenchless techniques for replacement. Non-invasive solutions are generally less disruptive and can be... Read more

  • p

  • Partial Replacement An instance in which only part of the service line (typically the public or utility side) is removed due to complications arising from the split ownership of the service line. Partial replacements increase the risk of lead release into drinking water. According to the Lead and Copper Rule... Read more
  • Predictive Modeling The use of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms to analyze data and predict the likelihood of lead service lines (LSLs) being present. This technology helps utilities identify areas where it is more likely to encounter LSLs and make informed decisions about... Read more
  • Principal Forgiveness (PF) A form of financial assistance under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) in which a loan is issued but does not require repayment, effectively functioning as a grant. State agencies may offer principal forgiveness (PF) to subsidize projects in Disadvantaged Communities (DACs), using... Read more
  • Project Priority List (PPL) A list including projects that have requested Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) financial assistance. State agencies must submit the PPL along with an intended use plan (IUP) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to receive DWSRF allotments. Projects on the are... Read more

  • r

  • Ratepayer An individual, household, or entity that pays a water utility for drinking water services, typically based on usage or a fixed service fee. Ratepayers provide the primary source of revenue for water systems, funding operations, maintenance, and infrastructure improvements.

  • s

  • A federal law enacted in 1974 to safeguard public health by regulating the nation’s public drinking water supply. The SDWA authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set and enforce national standards for drinking water quality, oversee state and local drinking water programs,... Read more
  • Pipes that connect a water main to a building or dwelling. Service lines can be made of many materials, such as copper, galvanized steel, plastic, and lead, and are typically 2 inches or smaller in diameter. The service line is typically split into a public side and a private side section of... Read more
  • Set-Asides Portions of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) federal capitalization grant that states may use to support various drinking water programs that are not directly associated with the construction of capital improvement projects. States may allocate up to 31% of their DWSRF... Read more
  • State Revolving Funds (SRFs) The primary source of federal funding for water infrastructure projects in the United States, composed of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). Funded through annual Congressional appropriations and administered by individual states,... Read more

  • t

  • Technical Assistance (TA) A range of services provided by external experts and advisors to enhance the capabilities of utilities and other eligible entities. Technical assistance services include engineering, financial, legal, environmental, community engagement, grant writing, and communications services, all aimed at... Read more

  • w

  • Primary water lines in the water distribution system, often running underneath roads and highways, usually installed and maintained by the water utility, whether public or private. Water mains are typically larger than 4 inches in diameter and convey water to service lines.
  • An entity that provides drinking water, wastewater, or stormwater services to the public. Water systems may be privately or publicly owned and managed. Public systems are usually non-profit entities managed by local or state governments, with rates set by a governing board, while private... Read more
  • An individual or entity that owns and operates one or more water systems and is responsible for providing drinking water or wastewater service to the public or another water utility. The term water utility is often defined in state statutes.

The purpose of the Lead Innovation Hub is to empower users to take action by equipping them with the best information, solutions, and resources available to replace lead pipes and improve public health for all.

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Milwaukee is one of the few cities in the country with a prioritization plan to ensure neighborhoods likely to suffer the most severe impacts from lead poisoning get their pipes replaced first. In consultation with a community-based group, Coalition for Lead Emergency (COLE), and following a public engagement process, Milwaukee included in an ordinance three indicators to prioritize where LSLs will be removed first:

  1. The area deprivation index (ADI), which is a compilation of social determinants of health
  2. The percentage of children found to have elevated lead levels in their blood when tested for lead poisoning
  3. The density of lead service lines in the neighborhood.

Read more here.