The EPA on Thursday, June 17, 2010, announced it is proposing to revise a national primary drinking water regulation to control waterborne pathogens in public water systems. The agency is proposing to revise the 1989 Total Coliform Rule to incorporate improvements recommended by a federal advisory committee.

The rule would require water systems to take action when monitoring results indicate that contamination or a pathway to contamination may be present. Water utilities are required to regularly monitor for microbial contamination in the distribution system. Although microbes detected in monitoring are not necessarily pathogens themselves, the detection can indicate that there is a pathway that would allow pathogens to enter the system, such as a water main break or an opening in a storage tank. Under the proposed rule, when monitoring results are positive, systems must find and fix any pathways leading to microbial risk.

The proposal also provides incentives for better system operation by improving the criteria for public water systems to qualify for and stay on reduced monitoring. The rule proposal updates conditions that would trigger public notices, to better represent the relative health threat identified. It also makes the wording required in these public notices more clear.

The EPA is seeking public comment on this proposed rule for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.

More information about the proposed rule is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/disinfection/tcr/index.html.

SOURCE: EPA Press Release