Water News

On Wednesday, April 29, 2020 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (ET), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will present a webinar on “Water Treatment Modeling Tools for Removing PFAS and Other Contaminants.” Continue reading

COVID-19 Considerations for Public Water Systems

This past Monday, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water (DDW) distributed a guidance document on COVID-19.  This afternoon, the SWRCB issued a revised version of that document (SWRCB_COVID-19 Considerations_REVISEDpdf). Continue reading

This morning the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water (DDW) posted for public comment a proposed definition of microplastics in drinking water (Microplastics_DDW Proposed Definition).  Continue reading

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water (DDW) distributed the two enclosed documents on COVID-19 for public water systems (SWRCB_COVID-19 Considerations SWRCB_COVID-19 Fact Sheet).  The topics included in the “SWRCB COVID-19 Considerations” document include the following: Continue reading

Science Advisory Board

In today’s Federal Register (march 16, 2020; LCRR_SAB Review) EPA announced that on March 30, 2020 (1:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET) the Science Advisory Board (SAB) will be briefed on two proposed regulations.  One of the proposed regulations is the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (the other proposed regulation is under the Clean Air Act) .  The briefing will be via teleconference.

If the SAB decides to form technical workgroups to provide “advice and comments” on either rule, a second teleconference will be held May 11, 2020 to “discuss the workgroup reports.”

EPA Q&A on COVID-19

EPA posted a question and answer web page on COVID-19 and drinking water and wastewater.

https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-drinking-water-and-wastewater

Regulatory Determination for PFOA and PFOS

In today’s Federal Register (March 10, 2020; EPA_Fed Reg_CCL4_Reg Det), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published for a 60-day public comment period its regulatory determination for eight unregulated contaminants on the Candidate Contaminant List 4 (CCL4).  EPA is proposing the following regulatory decisions: Continue reading

This morning (March 9, 2020) the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water (DDW) issued the enclosed Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to lower the perchlorate detection limit for purposes of reporting (DLR) from 4 µg/L to 2 µg/L.  DDW will hold a Continue reading

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water (DDW) posted the enclosed announcement (DDW Notice_Economic Feasibility Workshops_2020) with the dates (April 15^th, 17^th and 20^th), locations and times of three workshops on the White Paper “Economic Feasibility Analysis in Consideration of a Hexavalent Chromium MCL.” Continue reading

On March 12, 2020 at 3:30 pm (ET) the Water Research Foundation (WRF) is sponsoring a webcast on the Coronavirus.  Link to information page and registration:  https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1288028&tp_key=5b418a333f  Continue reading

At today’s State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) meeting Division of Drinking Water (DDW) staff presented the enclosed Regulatory Priorities for 2020. (DDW Reg Priorities_2020)  The SWRCB adopted the Regulatory Priorities as presented.

Some highlights from the enclosed:

1. Page 3, item 2b. Revised Lead DLR.   DDW anticipates proposing in 2020 a revised Detection Limit for Purposes of Reporting (DLR) for lead (“….and several other metals”).  The revised DLR for lead “may” be lowered from 5 parts per billion (ppb) to 1 ppb.
2. Page 4, item 4.  Revised Total Coliform Rule.  DDW plans to publish the draft Revised Total Coliform Rule for public comment during “spring 2020.”
3. Page 5, item 9.  Revised Perchlorate DLR.  DDW staff completed a survey of laboratory perchlorate capabilities.  The results “demonstrated an ability to lower the DLR without sacrificing capacity, but not to a level equal to or less than the PHG at this time….The proposed revision to the DLR is slated for Board consideration in June 2020.”  Background:  The MCL for perchlorate is 6 ppb, the PHG is 1 ppb, and the DLR is 4 ppb.

With regard to dates for the three public workshops on DDW’s White Paper on “Economic Feasibility Analysis in Consideration of a Hexavalent Chromium MCL,” ACWA staff indicate the following information was reported at the Board’s meeting:

• April 15 – Diamond Bar
• April 17 – Rancho Cordova (Central Valley Water Board’s headquarters)
• April 20 – Fresno

The workshop dates and more detailed information on time and location have not yet been posted by DDW.