The SWRCB has published updated information on the December 1, 2021 meeting of the DPR Expert Panel. The meeting will be held from 10 am to noon (PST), with a public comment session scheduled to begin at 11:30 am. Continue reading
Posts made in November 2021
PFAS Health Effects Documents to the SAB
PFAS Documents Submitted to the Science advisory Board (SAB)
EPA submitted four documents regarding PFAS health effects to the Science Advisory Board (SAB) for review and comment. Continue reading
California DPR Expert Panel Meetings
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) announced the tentative schedule for the next three videoconference meetings of the Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) Expert Panel. Continue reading
NDWAC CCR Meeting December 2021
In the November 16, 2021 Federal Register (Fed Reg_NDWAC CCR Revisions Mtg_2021-11-16) EPA announced that the full National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) will hold virtual meetings on December 1, 2021, Continue reading
Microplastics Monitoring Policy Handbook
The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water (DDW) released the enclosed draft Microplastics in Drinking Water Handbook (mcrplsts_plcy_drft).
The introduction states that the purpose of the Handbook is “….to implement Health and Safety Code section 116376 by setting forth the requirements for conducting monitoring and reporting of microplastics in drinking water. The Policy includes a two-step iterative four-year plan for monitoring and reporting microplastics….”
The Handbook will be presented at a workshop with the SWRCB on November 17, 2021 at 1:00 pm.
The November 17th workshop will be webcast, the enclosed SWRCB notice (revised-notice-microplastics) has a link to view the webcast.
CEQA Scoping Study on CrVI MCL
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water (DDW) distributed the enclosed Notice of Preparation of a draft Environmental Impact Report (CEQA_Notice of Preparation_CrVI) to “assess the potential environmental effects of adopting a maximum contaminant level for hexavalent chromium.” DDW is seeking “input regarding the scope and content of the environmental impact report.”
The meeting will be held Monday, November 29th from 3:00 to 4:30 pm, via Zoom. Comments on the Notice of Preparation are due by December 6, 2021.
According to the enclosed announcement DDW is considering 17 possible MCLs (1 to 15, 20, and 25 μg/L).
The Notice of Preparation has links to join the Zoom webcast on November 29, 2021.
Nov 17, 2021 Microplastics Workshop Change in Start Time
On November 17, 2021 the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will hold a public workshop on analytical methods and a testing and reporting plan for microplastics in drinking water. Per the revised notice (revised-notice-microplastics), the SWRCB has changed the time of the workshop from 9:00 am, to 1:00 pm.
Next Steps LCRR, M/DBP NDWAC Working Group
Next Steps for the Revised LCR
The Association of State Drinking Water Agencies (ASDWA) reported that on Tuesday (November 9, 2021) EPA submitted a notice indicating their final action “on the delay in the effective dates and compliance dates for the Lead and Copper Rule [LCR Revisions] to the Office of Continue reading
Certification of Need EPA Webinar, WOTUS Roundtables
EPA Hosting Webinar on SDWA and Certification of Need
On November 18, 2021, from 11:30 to 12:30 PST, EPA is hosting a webinar “Lessons from the Field: Tips to Mitigate Supply Chain Challenges.” The intent of the webinar is to provide an overview of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Section 1441 process, on Certification of Need. Topics include:
- Who is eligible for SDWA Section 1441;
- How to apply;
- What to expect after submitting an application; and
- Key takeaways from recent supply chain disruptions.
“The webinar will include a panel of previous water and wastewater utilities that submitted applications under the SDWA Section 1441 authorities. The panelists will provide lessons learned from their experience using the SDWA Section 1441 program. In addition, they will also provide information on EPA collaboration activities which assisted them with mitigation actions to help resolve their supply chain challenges, such as emergency contracts and identifying alternate systems and suppliers.”
Link to register:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3105058638307692302
Nominations for Locations for the Ten “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) Roundtables
In the October 25, 2021 Federal Register, EPA and the US Department of the Army requested nominations “…for one of….ten geographically focused roundtables” The intent for the Roundtables “….is to engage individuals representing diverse perspectives in meaningful dialogue on the definition of WOTUS.” Nomination letters were due by November 3, 2021. In the November 8, 2021 Federal Register ( Fed Reg_WOTUS Roundtables_2021-11-08) EPA and the Department of the Army are extending the deadline for nominations until December 1, 2021.
Background:
- On June 9, 2021, EPA and the Department of the Army, published an announcement that they intend to revised the definition of “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act.
- On July 30, 2021 EPA the Department of the Army published a notice that they intend to hold ten “regionally focused roundtables.”
Nature Article on Drinking Water Fluoridation
On October 27, 2021 the journal Nature published a lengthy article on drinking water fluoridation. The article begins with the lawsuit filed in April 2017 under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to stop drinking water fluoridation and includes discussions about the current understanding of benefits and risks. According to the article the judge in the TSCA lawsuit is awaiting the third and final draft monograph from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) on health effects of fluoride (expected in early 2022 according to article) before making a final ruling.
Link to article in Nature:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02924-6
Link to National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Press Release earlier this year on the NASEM review of the second draft of the NTP Monograph:
