CSLB Class B General Contractor's License Practice Exam

Which component is essential for monitoring lead and copper levels in drinking water supplies?

1. Water filtration systems

2. Lead and copper action levels

3. Environmental health regulations

4. Water softeners

The correct answer is: Lead and copper action levels

Lead and copper action levels are essential for monitoring the concentrations of these heavy metals in drinking water supplies. These action levels are established guidelines that trigger actions to reduce lead and copper levels if they exceed predetermined thresholds. They help regulatory agencies, water suppliers, and public health officials ensure safe drinking water by prompting necessary remediation actions, such as corrosion control treatments or the replacement of lead service lines. While water filtration systems can effectively remove lead and copper, they are not specifically designed for monitoring these levels; rather, they are a form of treatment. Environmental health regulations set the broader framework for safe drinking water standards, but without specific action levels related to lead and copper, the monitoring process would lack the necessary benchmarks for safety compliance. Water softeners, meanwhile, primarily address hardness in water and do not focus on heavy metals like lead and copper. Thus, the action levels are the key component that guides the monitoring processes for lead and copper in drinking water.