Safe Drinking Water Act and Water Quality Regulations

Vocabulary flashcards covering the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), various treatment rules (TCR, SWTR, GWR, etc.), secondary standards, and reporting requirements derived from the provided lecture transcript.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

The principal law governing drinking water safety in the United States, passed by Congress in 1974.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)

The agency directed by the SDWA to establish and enforce national primary drinking water regulations.

Number of Contaminants

The SDWA directed the US EPA to cover more than $90$ contaminants of different types.

Contaminant Classification: Turbidity

One of the specific categories of contaminants regulated under the SDWA.

Contaminant Classification: Microbial

Regulated indicator organisms categorized under US EPA drinking water standards.

Contaminant Classification: Radionuclides

Radioactive contaminants regulated by national primary drinking water standards.

Contaminant Classification: Inorganic

A category of contaminants including minerals and metals regulated by the EPA.

Contaminant Classification: Organic

Chemical compounds based on carbon that are regulated as primary contaminants.

Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOC)

Man-made organic chemicals regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature, regulated under SDWA.

Disinfection Byproducts

Chemicals formed when disinfectants react with natural organic matter, regulated by the EPA.

Water Testing Schedules

Schedules established by the US EPA that water systems are required to follow to ensure safety.

Testing Methods

Standard procedures established by the US EPA for analyzing water quality samples.

State Standards Stringency

Individual states can establish standards as long as they are at least as stringent as the national US EPA standards.

Primacy

The status of a state or territory having the primary authority to enforce water regulations.

SDWA Jurisdiction: 50 States

The Safe Drinking Water Act applies to all $50$ US states.

SDWA Jurisdiction: District of Columbia

The federal district included under the enforcement of the SDWA.

Indian Lands

Specific territories where the Safe Drinking Water Act is applicable outside of the 50 states.

Puerto Rico

A US territory to which the Safe Drinking Water Act applies.

Virgin Islands

A territory where the US EPA enforces national primary drinking water regulations.

American Samoa

An island territory regulated under the SDWA.

Guam

A territory in the Western Pacific governed by the SDWA.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Abbreviated as CW, this territory follows national primary drinking water regulations.

Republic of Palau

One of the specific locations where the SDWA is applicable.

Wyoming

The only one of the $50$ states that has not yet accepted primacy for drinking water regulation enforcement.

1986 SDWA Amendments

Required the US EPA to develop a timetable for developing primary standards for $83$ specific contaminants.

Approved Treatment Technique

A defined method the US EPA requires for each regulated contaminant where an MCL is not practical.

Filtration Criteria

Specific criteria established by the US EPA for the treatment of surface water supplies.

Disinfection Criteria

EPA specified criteria for treatming surface water and groundwater supplies to kill pathogens.

Lead Products Prohibition

The SDWA prohibits the use of lead products and materials used to convey drinking water.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Outbreak

A massive waterborne disease outbreak occurring in April $1993$.

Cryptosporidiosis

The disease caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium in the $1993$ Milwaukee outbreak.

Milwaukee Illness Count

The outbreak caused illness in over $400,000$ people.

Milwaukee Death Count

The waterborne disease outbreak killed more than $100$ people.

1996 SDWA Amendments

Prompted by the Milwaukee outbreak, these included the standardization of operator certification programs.

Operator Certification Standardization

A requirement of the $1996$ amendments to ensure consistent training from state to state.

Public Water System (PWS)

Any system supplying water for human consumption to at least $15$ service connections or serving $25$ or more people for $60$ or more days per year.

Types of Public Water Systems

There are three basic types: Community; Nontransient, Noncommunity; and Transient, Noncommunity.

Community Water System (CWS)

A system with $15$ or more service connections or serving $25$ or more year-round residents.

Municipal Systems

A common example of a Community Water System.

Rural Water Districts

An example of a Community Water System serving residents in less populated areas.

Mobile Home Parks

Residential locations classified as Community Water Systems if they meet the population/connection thresholds.

Nontransient, Noncommunity Water System (NTNCWS)

Serves $25$ or more of the same people (non-residents) for at least $6$ months out of the year.

Schools

A common example of a Nontransient, Noncommunity Water System.

Factories

Workplaces with their own water systems classified as Nontransient, Noncommunity.

Office Buildings

Commercial settings classified as Nontransient, Noncommunity systems if they serve the same workforce over time.

Transient, Noncommunity Water System (TWS)

A system serving an average of $25$ or more different people each day.

Parks

Recreational areas serving various people daily, classified as Transient, Noncommunity.

Motels

Lodging establishments serving different people daily, classified as Transient, Noncommunity.

Restaurants

Food establishments that might have their own water system, classified as Transient, Noncommunity.

Churches

Religious buildings classified as Transient, Noncommunity water systems.

Long-term Exposure Health Threats

Health risks for which Community and Nontransient, Noncommunity systems are specifically regulated.

Short-term Exposure Health Threats

Acute risks that Community and Nontransient, Noncommunity systems must monitor for.

Acute Health Risk Contaminants

Includes nitrite, nitrate, and microbial contaminants for which Transient, Noncommunity systems must monitor.

Total US Public Water Systems count

There are about $155,000$ public water systems in the United States.

Total Community Water Systems count

There are approximately $52,000$ community water systems in the US.

System Size Classification: Very Small

A water system serving $25 - 500$ people.

System Size Classification: Small

A water system serving $501 - 3,300$ people.

System Size Classification: Medium

A water system serving $3,301 - 10,000$ people.

System Size Classification: Large

A water system serving $10,001 - 100,000$ people.

System Size Classification: Very Large

A water system serving more than $100,001$ people.

National Primary Regulations

Cover contaminants known to cause adverse health effects on the consuming public.

MCL/TT Compliance Requirement

All public water systems must meet primary regulations established as Maximum Contaminant Levels or Treatment Techniques.

Water Quality (AWWA textbook)

The textbook published by the AWWA that lists primary drinking water standards in Table 1-1.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)

The concentration below which there is no known or expected health risk.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)

The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG)

A non-enforceable health goal for disinfectant forms like chlorine.

MCLG Enforceability

MCLGs are non-enforceable public health goals.

MCL Enforceability

MCLs are enforceable standards set as close as possible to MCLGs.

Treatment Technique (TT) Rationale

Established when setting an MCL is impractical or impossible.

Cryptosporidium cyst protection

Instead of an MCL, a Treatment Technique was established for protecting the public from these cysts.

MRDL for Chlorine and Chloramines

$4.0 / mg/L$.

MRDL for Chlorine Dioxide

$0.8 / mg/L$.

Public Notification Requirement

Water systems must notify the public anytime they fail to comply with SDWA regulations.

Tier I Notification

Notification for violations that pose an immediate risk to public health.

Tier II Notification

Notification for violations requiring information as soon as possible but within 30 days.

Tier III Notification

Notification for violations requiring information within 12 months.

Tier I Deadline

The notification must be made within $24$ hours of learning of the violation.

Fecal Coliform Violation

Specifically falls under Tier I notification requirements.

Nitrate MCL Violation

A violation requiring Tier I immediate public notification.

Chlorine Dioxide MCL Violation

A chemical disinfectant violation requiring Tier I notification.

Turbidity MCL Violation (Tier I)

Only Tier I if the primacy agency specifically elevates it according to the situation.

Waterborne Disease Outbreak

An emergency situation requiring immediate Tier I notification.

Tier II Deadline

Within $30$ days of learning of the violation.

Tier II Reporting Frequency

Must continue quarterly notifications as long as the violation persists.

Tier II Examples

All MCL, MRDL, and TT violations except those elevated to Tier I.

Monitoring Violations (Tier II)

Only Tier II if specifically elevated by the primacy agency.

Tier III Deadline

Within $12$ months of learning of the violation.

Consumer Confidence Report (Tier III)

A Tier III notification may be accomplished by including the violation in this annual report.

Tier III Examples

Monitoring or testing procedure violations and operating under a variance.

Fluoride Secondary MCL

A specific Tier III violation example.

UCMR Results

Information that falls under Tier III reporting if required.

Required Element: Contaminant of Concern

First item in a public notice: description of the violation and contaminant(s).

Required Element: Date of Violation

Second item in a public notice: description of when the situation occurred.

Required Element: Health Effects

Third item in a public notice: any potential adverse effects from drinking the water.

Required Element: Population at Risk

Fourth item in a public notice: identifies subpopulations that may be particularly vulnerable.

Alternative Water Supplies

A required element in a notice advising if alternate sources should be used.

Consumer Actions

A required element advising consumers on steps to take (e.g., seeking medical help).

Corrective Actions

A required element explaining what the PWS is doing to fix the violation.

Resolution Timeline

A required element stating when the PWS expects to return to compliance.