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Section 1445(a)(2) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended in 1996, 2018, and 2020, requires that the EPA establish a program to monitor unregulated contaminants every five years. The EPA published the rule defining the fifth cycle of monitoring (UCMR 5) on December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73131) covering 2022-2026. This upcoming action meets the SDWA statutory requirement by establishing the terms for the next (sixth) cycle of monitoring and identifying the new unregulated contaminants to be monitored during the five-year UCMR 6 period of 2027-2031. Monitoring preparations are anticipated in 2027, with sample collection between 2028-2030 and reporting concluding in 2031. To prepare for this future action, the agency: (1) solicited public input on the development of drinking water analytical methods for emerging contaminants in drinking water, particularly those listed on the agency’s Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 5), that might support monitoring under UCMR 6; (2) held a pre-proposal public webinar to discuss potential approaches to develop UCMR 6 and included time for public discussion; (3) hosted an informational webinar for Tribal government representatives to discuss the development of UCMR 6 and Tribal Consultation efforts; (4) held an informational webinar for State representatives to discuss potential approaches to UCMR 6 development and the implementation of the rule; and (5) sought public comment through the publication of the proposal.

Overall Description of Deadline: SDWA (Section 1445; USC 300j-4) requires EPA to issue a list of unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems every five years. The next cycle is 2027-2031.