EPA to Propose Rules to Regulate Chemicals in Drinking Water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson announced new plans for the agency to regulate chemicals in the nation’s water systems. Among the regulated substances were chemicals such as perchlorate, volatile organic compounds, and hexavalent chromium. The agency will be proposing a formal rule regulating perchlorate in drinking water,  a chemical that is used in the production of fireworks, missiles and flares. The GAO produced a 2005 report that showed the chemical has contaminated 153 public water systems in 28 states. The EPA is also working towards regulating levels of up to 16 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as part of the EPA’s Drinking Water Strategy laid out by Administrator Jackson last March.  The part of the goals laid out in the Strategy was to address all chemicals in groups to more quickly address public health concerns and allow more efficient and effective planning for utilities. Another potential EPA action would regulate levels of hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, in water. The announcement came on the heels of a report released by an environmental group detailing findings of the chemical in 31 of 35 U.S. cities tested. If EPA issues these rulings, it could require upgrades or retrofits to many existing filtration facilities or even new facility construction to meet the stricter regulations. With the burden of financing the upgrades and facilities increasingly placed on state and local governments as the federal government decreases its funding commitment, these regulations could amount to large unfunded mandates.  These mandates however, are still mandates and could potentially prevent state and local governments from cutting water facility construction from their budgets in the coming years. For more information, contact Scott Berry at (703) 837-5321 or berrys@agc.org.