Reprinted from Main Stream, Vol. 42, No. 8 (August 1998) by permission.
Copyright © 1998, American Water Works Association.
Representatives of water systems and state regulatory agencies, as well as other stakeholders, got their first crack last month at commenting on the US Environmental Protection Agency's plan to adopt Safe Drinking Water Act-mandated regulations by fall of 2000 to enhance surface water treatment regulations for small systems and control microbial risks posed by recycling of filter backwash waters.
Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
As a starting point for discussing development of the Long-Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule for systems serving fewer than 10,000 people, USEPA representatives simply described the tightened turbidity limits and disinfection benchmarking requirement it will finalize in November for larger systems under the negotiated Interim ESWTR. They then asked whether some 4,500 small systems that conventionally treat surface water should also be required to meet those same criteria.
USEPA noted that the LT1ESWT rulemaking will provide such systems with the regulatory framework to ensure maintenance of microbial control as they comply with requirements of the Stage 1 Disinfection By-product Rule, also due in November.
USEPA specifically solicited input on technical and operational limitations that small systems might face in implementing the Interim ESWTR requirements (e.g., using online turbidimeters to monitor individual filter performance and calculating their disinfection benchmark) and troubleshooting problem filters. Comments generally reflected strong concerns about the capacity of small surface water systems to meet interim rule requirements. No alternative approaches were presented, however.
USEPA also described results from Comprehensive Performance Evaluations of 48 small systems, concluding that raising awareness and coordinating assistance resources are key factors for improving treatment performance.
Issue: Everyone needs an opportunity to get involved in changing the way water systems are regulated.
How can you get involved in changing the way drinking water systems are regulated?
U.S. citizens can get involved in the process in two ways.
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, rules are enacted at the federal and state level.
The Safe Drinking Water Act must be reauthorized by the U.S. Congress every 10 years.
The Ohio Legislature has adopted specific processes for adopting drinking water laws, regulations, and policies. Citizen and group input is sought at several stages of the adoption process. To review copies of proposed Ohio drinking water laws and rules access www. epa.state.oh.us/ddagw/ddagwmain.html.
The Ohio legislature has adopted specific processes for adopting drinking water laws, regulations, and policies. Citizen and group input is sought at several stages of the adoption process.