2019
EPA Proposes Updates to Lead and Copper Rule to Better Protect Children and At-Risk Communities
LAS VEGAS (October 10, 2019) — As part of Children’s Health Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule that significantly improves the actions that water systems must take to reduce lead in the nation’s drinking water. EPA Regional Administrator Mike Stoker announced the proposal at an event in Las Vegas. This action represents the first major overhaul of the Lead and Copper Rule since 1991 and marks a critical step in advancing the Trump Administration’s Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures.
In conjunction with today’s announcement, EPA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have launched a new website that summarizes available federal programs that help finance or fund lead service line (LSL) replacement. The new resource also includes case studies demonstrating how cities and states have successfully leveraged federal resources to support LSL replacement projects.
Read the rule and fact sheets at: www.epa.gov/safewater/LCRproposal.
LAS VEGAS (October 10, 2019) — As part of Children’s Health Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule that significantly improves the actions that water systems must take to reduce lead in the nation’s drinking water. EPA Regional Administrator Mike Stoker announced the proposal at an event in Las Vegas. This action represents the first major overhaul of the Lead and Copper Rule since 1991 and marks a critical step in advancing the Trump Administration’s Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures.
In conjunction with today’s announcement, EPA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have launched a new website that summarizes available federal programs that help finance or fund lead service line (LSL) replacement. The new resource also includes case studies demonstrating how cities and states have successfully leveraged federal resources to support LSL replacement projects.
Read the rule and fact sheets at: www.epa.gov/safewater/LCRproposal.
EPA Launches Agriculture Smart Sectors Program in Pacific Southwest to Achieve Better Environmental Outcomes
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 office is announcing the launch of an agriculture focus in its Smart Sectors Pacific Southwest program, a partnership initiative between the agency and regulated business sectors that is aimed at achieving better environmental outcomes. Based on the national Smart Sectors program, this approach provides a significant opportunity for EPA to consider more forward-thinking ways to protect the environment through collaboration and dialogue with key sectors of the economy in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, as well as with 148 tribes in the region.
In the Pacific Southwest, EPA initially began with a focus on the oil and gas sector in April of this year and plans to expand to other sectors in addition to agriculture in coming months. Nationally, Smart Sectors engages with 13 sectors of the economy. EPA focuses on best practices, convening workshops to facilitate communication, raising public awareness and information sharing, and enhancing knowledge of federal environmental programs.
More information about EPA’s Smart Sectors program: https://www.epa.gov/smartsectors
More information about the sector snapshots: https://www.epa.gov/smartsectors/sector-snapshots
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 office is announcing the launch of an agriculture focus in its Smart Sectors Pacific Southwest program, a partnership initiative between the agency and regulated business sectors that is aimed at achieving better environmental outcomes. Based on the national Smart Sectors program, this approach provides a significant opportunity for EPA to consider more forward-thinking ways to protect the environment through collaboration and dialogue with key sectors of the economy in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, as well as with 148 tribes in the region.
In the Pacific Southwest, EPA initially began with a focus on the oil and gas sector in April of this year and plans to expand to other sectors in addition to agriculture in coming months. Nationally, Smart Sectors engages with 13 sectors of the economy. EPA focuses on best practices, convening workshops to facilitate communication, raising public awareness and information sharing, and enhancing knowledge of federal environmental programs.
More information about EPA’s Smart Sectors program: https://www.epa.gov/smartsectors
More information about the sector snapshots: https://www.epa.gov/smartsectors/sector-snapshots
16th Annual EPA Drinking Water Workshop
Addressing Challenges and Solutions for Small Systems - Preliminary Agenda
This free annual workshop, held in partnership with the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), provides in-depth information and training on various solutions and strategies for handling small drinking water system challenges. The workshop is primarily designed for state personnel responsible for drinking water regulations compliance and treatment technologies permitting; however, others may also benefit, including system owners and operators, local and tribal governments, academics, design engineers, technical assistance providers, and consultants.
https://www.epa.gov/water-research/16th-annual-epa-drinking-water-workshop
Addressing Challenges and Solutions for Small Systems - Preliminary Agenda
This free annual workshop, held in partnership with the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), provides in-depth information and training on various solutions and strategies for handling small drinking water system challenges. The workshop is primarily designed for state personnel responsible for drinking water regulations compliance and treatment technologies permitting; however, others may also benefit, including system owners and operators, local and tribal governments, academics, design engineers, technical assistance providers, and consultants.
https://www.epa.gov/water-research/16th-annual-epa-drinking-water-workshop
RISK AND RESILIENCE ASSESSMENTS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS:
Click on images to view the new requirements for drinking water Utilities.
Click on images to view the new requirements for drinking water Utilities.
Webinar 1: Earthquake Threats, Resilience Tools, and Project Funding
Webinar 2: Utility Examples to Mitigate Earthquake Impacts
- Wed, Jun 12, 2019 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM HST
Webinar 2: Utility Examples to Mitigate Earthquake Impacts
- Wed, Jun 19, 2019 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM HST
House Energy and Commerce Chair Introduces Bill to Eliminate PFAS from Americans’ Drinking Water
PFAS are a class of industrial chemicals most commonly used in the production of products such as Teflon and Scotchguard, and used for decades by the Department of Defense in firefighting exercises. The toxic chemicals have been linked to cancer, immune system effects, liver failure and birth defects, and pose increasingly serious public health risks to communities throughout the country as their presence in drinking water has become more prevalent.
Click here to view the bill
PFAS are a class of industrial chemicals most commonly used in the production of products such as Teflon and Scotchguard, and used for decades by the Department of Defense in firefighting exercises. The toxic chemicals have been linked to cancer, immune system effects, liver failure and birth defects, and pose increasingly serious public health risks to communities throughout the country as their presence in drinking water has become more prevalent.
Click here to view the bill
Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) Placards: collection of six (6) e-fillable placards on the RTCR requirements.
collection while maintaining the metadata.
*As the default, these placards are set to font size 13 for printing to 11X17 paper size so they can hang on the wall and remain readable. If they are printed on smaller
paper (e.g., 8½X11, 8½X14) the format dimensions will shift (i.e., more white space on the top and bottom), but the information will remain readable.
- Designed for primacy agencies to give to small PWSs that serve 1,000 or fewer persons.
- For non-seasonal PWSs, there are three (3) placards for collecting routine samples per Month, Quarter, or One-time a Year.
- For seasonal PWSs, there are two (2) placards for collecting routine samples per Month or Quarter.
- For all PWS, there is one (1) placard on Level 1 or Level 2 Assessment requirements.
collection while maintaining the metadata.
*As the default, these placards are set to font size 13 for printing to 11X17 paper size so they can hang on the wall and remain readable. If they are printed on smaller
paper (e.g., 8½X11, 8½X14) the format dimensions will shift (i.e., more white space on the top and bottom), but the information will remain readable.
- Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) Sample Siting Plan with Template Manual
- Designed for primacy agencies to give to small PWSs that serve 1,000 or fewer persons, including direct implementation program and tribal water systems.
- Ten page manual for selecting representative sample locations (i.e., routine & repeat samples). Includes protocols, recommended instructions, and an e-fillable sample siting plan template.
Click here for EPA "New Bill"
All Community Water Systems (CWSs) Serving More Than 3,300 Persons MUST Conduct a New Risk & Resiliency Assessment (RRA) and Emergency Response Plan (ERP) by July 2021: On October 23, 2018, President Trump signed into law the “American Water Infrastructure Act” (Public Law 115-270).
The new law requires community water systems serving more than 3,300 persons to assess the risks to, and resilience of, their systems.
All Community Water Systems (CWSs) Serving More Than 3,300 Persons MUST Conduct a New Risk & Resiliency Assessment (RRA) and Emergency Response Plan (ERP) by July 2021: On October 23, 2018, President Trump signed into law the “American Water Infrastructure Act” (Public Law 115-270).
The new law requires community water systems serving more than 3,300 persons to assess the risks to, and resilience of, their systems.