Return To Current News

Long-term drinking water goals outlined by EPA

DENVER — The EPA's first six-year review outlining drinking water research goals has been evaluated by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) on its website .

Topping the EPA's long-term drinking water research goals is development of sound data and approaches for assessing and managing risks posed by arsenic, disinfection by-products (DBPs), pathogens and contaminants targeted by the agency's first six-year review (i.e., chromium, fluoride, lead, copper and antimony), the AWWA reported.

Developed in recent years by the Office of Research and Development (ORD), in partnership with the Office of Water, the comprehensive research plan also aims to develop new data, tools and technologies to support future rulemaking and implementation decisions as well as decisions regarding the protection of source waters and distribution system water quality, the AWWA said.

The plan emphasizes the need to address science corresponding "to the areas of greatest uncertainty in the assessment and control of drinking water risks," such as identifying the most cost-effective technologies for removing arsenic from water and managing the residual wastes and strengthening understanding of the risks associated with low-dose arsenic exposure.

The plan also aims to improve Cryptosporidium analytical methods, identify data and methods needed to assess risks from protozoa and viruses, better characterize DBP-associated reproductive health effects, determine risks associated with alternative disinfectants and identify methods for estimating DBP formation and determining exposure to DBPS of concern, the study said.

The plan further calls for development of new approaches for prioritizing, assessing and managing thousands of unregulated contaminants, such as perchlorate, with an eye toward identifying which contaminant-specific research is needed for high priority pathogens and chemicals that are now on or could be added to the Contaminant Candidate List.