AWWA JAW64258 Journal AWWA - Water Beat -- Water News Roundup

Journal Article by American Water Works Association, 01/01/2007

Full Description

This bimonthly roundup features highlights of the hottest news storiesof recent months as reported in WATERWEEK, AWWA's weekly newsletterto member utilities. Topics covered include: experts identify steps to address distribution system risks by implementing voluntary measures detailed in AWWA Standard G200; under terms of a deal reached this fall by Congress, water and wastewater utilities areexempted from interim chemical security requirements authorized in the fiscal year(FY) 2007 spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) expects to launch its initial WaterSentinel pilot project, a system for timely detection and appropriate response to drinking water contamination threats and incidents, at the Greater CincinnatiWater Works (GCWW) during the summer of 2007; starting in 2010, pipes and plumbing fixtures delivering potable water in Californiacan't contain more than 0.25% lead under legislation signed in late September byCalifornia Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger; USEPA issued guidance last fall advising utilities not to ask homeowners who collecttap-water samples for Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) compliance purposes to removefaucet aerators before doing so; strong criticism by AWWA on USEPA's requirement in proposed revisions to the LCR torequire water systems to get state approval before making any treatment changes; water utilities in California would have to comply with a perchlorate standard of 6 g/Lunder a proposed rule that also provides variances for economically distressedcommunities; AWWA has faulted a USEPA plan to conduct another Community Water System Survey(CWWS) for falling short in its attempt to seek additional information to measure theeffects of drinking water regulations and the effectiveness of state primacy programs; in commenting on USEPA's cumulative risk assessment for chlorinated triazineherbicides, AWWA reiterated its long-held position that manufacturers of atrazine andsimazine and their degradates should be responsible for controlling human exposure tothem rather than that burden falling on water suppliers; water quality monitoring data from thousands of domestic wells across the United Statesindicate that the top contaminants found include three organic pesticides, with arsenic andnitrate topping the list of contaminants exceeding their federal drinking water standards; and, USEPA water officials are backing away from a 2008 target of having 95% of peopleserved by community water systems receive water that meets all health-based standards.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. 99 - No. 1 Published: 01/01/2007 Number of Pages: 10 File Size: 1 file , 230 KB