Drinking Water Regulations: What Does The Future Hold?

By Eric Meliton, Energy and Environment Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan

A new list of contaminants and round of long-term mandates are under consideration by the U.S. EPA, prompting close attention from drinking water utilities.

In 2009, the U.S. EPA completed its mandatory six year review of the National Primary Drinking Water  Regulations (NPDWRs) as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act. In that effort, the EPA assessed 71 NPDWRs and determined that 67 were acceptable, while four required immediate revision. Additional to this effort, the EPA review committee assessed 14 newly proposed NPDWRs, along with a review of existing National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations — a set of guidelines for contaminants that may be selected for further enforcement at the state level.

With the next formal six year review (Six Year Review 3) slated for 2015, the drinking water treatment industry is keen to identify the current NPDWRs that will become prevalent as the review period  approaches. By addressing some of the treatment requirements imposed by any revised standards, municipalities and treatment technology providers can gauge how capable their current treatment systems are of maintaining overall NPDWR compliance.