Lead and Copper Site Plan Updates
For Community Public Water Systems

Understanding the rule

All Community Public Water Systems need to ensure the sites they are collecting from meet the federal rule requirements.

The Lead and Copper Rule requires public water systems to collect samples from lead and copper sites that are at highest risk for elevated levels of corrosion based on the Sample Site Tier Criteria. Community Public Water Systems need to be able to confirm the sample sites they are using meet the rule requirements prior to beginning sample collection. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will update this page as more information/guidance becomes available.

Creating your lead and copper site plan

It may be helpful to use your Lead Service Line Materials Inventory to complete the sampling site plan. Systems will be able to confirm their sites meet the requirements of the rule based on the materials present in the distribution and the residents willing to participate in sample collection.

The excel sheet below can be downloaded and edited for your system’s site plan and the instructions will detail the process to confirm your system has enough sites that meet the rule requirements.

Systems need to provide the sites to Minnesota Department of Health prior to their next round of lead and copper sample collection in order to confirm the samples will be appropriate. If this is your first time completing the site plan template, please complete and submit your site plan to MDH using the template below before the beginning of your next scheduled monitoring period.

• Lead and Copper Site Plan Template (Excel)
• Lead and Copper Site Plan Template: Instructional Guideline Factsheet (PDF)
• Sample Collection Procedures: Sample collection procedures, community tap water form, sample site guidance, and water system checklist are available under the lead and copper section.

If you have any questions, please first refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) with Responses for Lead/Copper Site Plan Template (PDF). If your question is not addressed in the FAQ, or if you require further assistance, feel free to email us directly at health.community.leadandcopper@state.mn.us.

Updating your previously approved lead and copper site plan

To update your lead and copper site plan and make changes to a previously approved plan, contact health.community.leadandcopper@state.mn.us for a lead and copper site plan update template. This will ensure sites are not repeated on your site plan and each has its own unique state ID number. MDH will review site plan updates in the same timeframe they review new submissions and will be able to provide updated chain of custodies for additional sites as needed.

Sampling refusals and non-responses

The record of participation form should be used when a system's highest priority sample location cannot be sampled due to customer refusal or non-response. Using this form, the system can record their outreach to those residents. Each high-priority sample site in the distribution must have a documented record of participation form before the system can move to a lower priority (high tier number) site for sampling. In order for a high-priority site to not be sampled, the homeowner must decline participation or the system must conduct at least two outreach attempts with non-responses.

• Lead and Copper Sampling - Record of participation Form (PDF)

How to submit a site plan template

When the site plan template is fully complete and ready to submit to MDH, email the completed excel workbook to Health.community.leadandcopper@state.mn.us.

MDH will review your submittal and contact you if any follow up is needed.

The following is a webinar training video designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of what the lead/copper site plan template is and how it can be effectively utilized for your system. This resource aims to guide you through the key components of the template, ensuring you have the knowledge and tools necessary to implement it correctly.