Instructions for Lead Action Level Exceedance Public Notification

A lead action level exceedance (ALE) occurs when the 90th percentile concentration of lead is greater than 15 parts per billion (ppb) or 0.015 mg/L.

Important Deadline Information

PWS must provide a public notice to persons served as soon as practical but no more than 24 hours after learning of the lead ALE.

PWS must provide a copy of the Tier 1 Public Notice to both EPA at LeadALE@EPA.gov and your local ADEC Drinking Water Program at one of the email addresses listed below as soon as practicable but no later than 24 hours after the public water system learns of the exceedance.

Anchorage DEC Office: dec.dwdata.anchorage@alaska.gov
Fairbanks DEC Office: dec.dwdata.fairbanks@alaska.gov
Soldotna DEC Office: dec.dwdata.soldotna@alaska.gov
Wasilla DEC Office: dec.dwdata.wasilla@alaska.gov

In addition to public notice, PWS must also initiate consultation with the State as soon as practical but within 24 hours after learning of the ALE to determine whether any additional public notification requirements (including any repeat notices or direction on the duration of the posted notices) are set by the State. PWS must issue the notice within 24 hours, even if you are unable to contact anyone at the State.

PWS must certify to the Drinking Water Program that all the public notification requirements have been met within 10 days after the original or any repeat notice(s) by completing the Lead ALE PN Certification Form.

Delivery Method and Content Information

PWS must provide the notice in a manner that can reach all persons served by the system, including consecutive systems using one or more of the following methods to deliver the notice to consumers:

Broadcast Media, such as radio and television
Hand delivery
Posting in conspicuous locations throughout your water service area
Sent electronically to consumers
Broadcasted over VHF radio
Posted to social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, etc.)
Another method approved in writing by State

PWS may need to use multiple methods of delivery (e.g., broadcast along with providing multiple copies to hospitals, clinics, or apartment buildings; etc). If you post or hand deliver the notice, we recommend printing your notice on your system's letterhead, if you have it.

For water systems serving a large proportion of non-English speaking consumers, this notice must have information in the appropriate language(s) or information on how to receive a translated copy of the notice or contact information on how to request assistance in the appropriate language.

Using the Notification Template

The Lead ALE PN template is intended for hand delivery or for posting in a public place. If you modify the notice, you must still include all required public notice elements and leave all mandatory language as noted in italics with an asterisk* on the template unchanged.

The template provides mandatory text from the regulation, example language that you may use and/or modify for required content, and places to fill in or with instructions in [bracketed bold and underlined text].

For more information on how to meet general public notification requirements, see the Revised PN Handbook.