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EPA/WATER

RIN: 2040-AA97

Publication ID: Fall 1998

Title: National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Ground Water Rule
Abstract: The Safe Drinking Water Act as amended in 1996 directs EPA to promulgate regulations requiring disinfection "as necessary" for ground water systems. The intention is to reduce microbial contamination risk from public water systems relying on ground water. To determine if treatment is necessary, the rule will establish a framework to identify public water supplies vulnerable to microbial contamination and to develop and implement risk control strategies including but not limited to disinfection. Development and implementation of the rule will involve local, tribal, State and Federal governments. The structure of the draft rule is a series of barriers to microbial contamination. The proposed barriers are source water protection and vulnerability assessment; assessment and maintenance of the well, treatment facility and distribution system; disinfection where necessary; and monitoring.
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)	Priority: Economically Significant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage
Major: Yes	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 141 40 CFR 142
Legal Authority: 42 USC 300 Safe Drinking Water Act sec 1412

Legal Deadline:

Action	Source	Description	Date
Final	Statutory	Publish radon health risk reduction and cost analysis.	05/31/2002

Statement of Need: ublic water systems (PWSs) that use ground water as their sole source of water, as opposed to surface water PWSs, are not federally regulated as to treatment for microorganisms. There is data that indicates that a number of ground water PWSs are contaminated with microorganisms of fecal origin that can and have caused illness.

Summary of the Legal Basis: Section 1412(b)(1)(A) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires EPA to establish National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for contaminants that may have an adverse public health effect and that present a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction. This general provision is supplemented with an additional requirement under section 1412(b)(8) that EPA also develop regulations specifying the use of disinfectants for ground water systems as necessary.

Alternatives: Not available at this time.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Not available at this time.

Risks: Not available at this time.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	03/00/1999
Final	11/00/2000

Additional Information: SAN No. 2340
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes	Government Levels Affected: Federal, Local, State, Tribal
Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions, Organizations
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes
Agency Contact: Tracy Bone Environmental Protection Agency Water 4601M, Washington, DC 20460 Phone:202 564-5257 Fax:202 564-3753 Email: Bone.Tracy@epamail.epa.gov