In February 2016, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder testified before the House Oversight Committee and acknowledged what the residents of Flint, Michigan, knew well: The city’s water crisis was caused by “a failure of government at all levels. Local, state and federal officials . . . all failed the families of Flint.” The Environmental Protection Agency’s inspector general has now released a sharply critical report that arrives at the same conclusion.

The inspector general’s office has issued nine recommendations for the EPA. It calls on the agency to create a risk identification system for state drinking-water programs, track citizen complaints and provide training on the oversight tools available to drinking-water staff. It also advises the EPA to release a clear escalation policy that outlines when it should intervene in states.

But perhaps the report’s most important recommendation is for the EPA to update the Lead and Copper Rule, which dictates how communities control lead in drinking water. The rule is almost universally disliked, earning criticism from environmental groups, local governments and the water industry for being complex, outdated and insufficient. Yet the Trump administration has delayed revising it three times. It is long past time to improve monitoring, clarify standards and strengthen protections for vulnerable communities. If the EPA is serious about averting another Flint, it should take these steps soon.