Fact Sheet: The Phase V Rule, Updated, January 1995


                      United States
                      Environmental Protection
                      Agency
                      Office of Water
                      4601
EPA811-F-92-001
January 1995
     EPA        The  Phase V  Rule
     "Phase V
    added 23
 contaminants
   to the total
   number of
drinking water
  standards."
  The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments passed by Congress in 1986
require EPA to set drinking water standards for 83 contaminants listed in the Act
and an additional 25 contaminants every three years.  To date, the Agency has
promulgated National Primary Drinking Water Standards for 21 Volatile Organic
Chemicals (VOCs), fluoride, coliform and other microbiological  contaminants, 50
Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) and Inorganic Chemicals (lOCs) and lead and
copper.  Regulations for radionuclides (proposed July 1991),  sulfate (proposed
December 1994)  and a revised standard for arsenic  (expected to be  proposed
November 1995) count toward completion of the required 83.
  The Phase V Rule set drinking water standards for 23 contaminants that may be
founddn drinking water. The regulation includes Maximum Contaminant Levels
(MCLs), Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs), requirements for monitoring,
reporting, public notification  and Best Available Technologies (BATs) for water
treatment. In general, a low occurrence of these contaminants is expected in drinking
water. Cost estimates include a monitoring cost of $5 million, State implementation
costs of $10 million and annual  treatment costs of $31 million, for a total of $46
million. The Phase V MCLs became effective 18 months after the promulgation date
(i.e., January 17, 1994).
Table 1. MCLs & MCLGs for Inorganic
and Organic Contaminants
yf-
Tt l^ft^T^nYf "rlf^ffflfti^ ^KSpsSwaSSSSvC J* ^ ^VfSr^^n!?*? *" *" rA-'t **
- v^^S^^RS?^^^
T/\/~l_
11X/8
Antimony
Beryllium
Cyanide
Nickel
Thallium
\Tf\fv
vocs
Dichloromethane
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
1,1,2-Trichloroe thane
Pesticides
Dalapon
Dinoseb
Diquat
Endothall
Endrin
Glyphosate
Oxamyl (Vydate)
Picloram
Simazine
Other Organic Contaminant*

Benzolajpyrene
Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
Hexachlorobenzene
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin)

0.006
0.004
0.2
0.1
0.0005

zero
0.07
0.003

0.2
0.007
0.02
0.1
0.002
0.7
0.2
0.5
0.004

zero
0.4
zero
zero
0.05
zero

0.006
0.004
0.2
0.1
0.002

0.005
0.07
0.005

0.2
0.007
0.02
0.1
0.002
0.7
0.2
0.5
0.004

0.0002
0.4
0.006
0.001
0.05
0.00000003

Drinking Water Standards

Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs): Public Water
Systems are required to make sure that the water they supply
meets the MCL for each Phase V chemical. These are enforceable
standards. MCLs for Phase V chemicals are listed in Table 1.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs): For each
chemical, EPA has set a non-enforceable health goal which water
systems should try to achieve. Water containing a chemical in an
amount equal to or below its MCLG is not expected to cause any
health problems, even over a lifetime of drinking this water.


Applicability of MCLs

MCLs established under the Safe Drinking Water Act are
Federally enforceable standards for finished water provided by
Public Water Supply Systems. In addition, these standards are
often used as reference points for the protection and remediation of
water resources under several EPA programs as well as programs
implemented by other Federal agencies and States.



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H Public Education Fact Sheet Series ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^|

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                     United States
                     Environmental Protection
                     Agency
                      Office of Water
                      4601
EPA811-F-92-001
January 1995
     EPA        The Phase V Rule
                                       F^A-C-T-S-H-E^E-T
     "Phase V
    added 23
 contaminants
   to the total
   number of
drinking water
  standards."
  The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments passed by Congress in 1986
require EPA to set drinking water standards for 83 contaminants listed in the Act
and an additional 25 contaminants every  three years. To date, the Agency has
promulgated National Primary Drinking Water Standards for 21 Volatile Organic
Chemicals (VOCs), fluoride, conform and other microbiological  contaminants, 50
Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs) and Inorganic Chemicals (lOCs) and lead and
copper.  Regulations for radionuclides (proposed July 1991),  sulfate (proposed
December 1994)  and a revised standard for  arsenic (expected to be  proposed
November 1995) count toward completion of the required 83.
  The Phase V Rule set drinking water standards for 23 contaminants that may be
founddn drinking water.  The regulation includes Maximum Contaminant Levels
(MCLs), Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs), requirements for monitoring,
reporting, public notification  and Best Available Technologies (BATs) for water
treatment. In general, a low occurrence of these contaminants is expected in drinking
water. Cost estimates include a monitoring cost  of $5 million, State implementation
costs of $10 million and annual treatment costs of $31 million, for a total of $46
million. The Phase V MCLs became effective 18 months after the promulgation date
(i.e., January 17, 1994).
Table 1. MCLs & MCLGs for Inorganic
and Organic Contaminants

% Oaaia%I^^^^K
* *
IQCs
Antimony
Beryllium
Cyanide
Nickel
Thallium
VOCs
Dichloromethane
1 ,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
1 , 1,2-Trichloroe thane
Pesticides
Dalapon
Dinoseb
Diquat
Endothall
Endrin
Glyphosate
Oxamyl (Vydate)
Picloram
Simazine
Other Orcanic Corj^mjfif n(f
Benzo[a]pyrene
Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
Hexachlorobenzene
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
2,3,7 ,8-TCDD (Dioxin)

0.006
0.004
0.2
0.1
0.0005
zero
0.07
0.003
0.2
0.007
0.02
0.1
0.002
0.7
0.2
0.5
0.004
zero
0.4
zero
zero
0.05
zero
0.006
0.004
02
0.1
0.002
0.005
0.07
0.005
02
0.007
0.02
0.1
0.002
0.7
0.2
0.5
0.004
0.0002
0.4
0.006
0.001
0.05
0.00000003


Drinking Water Standards
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs): Public Water
Systems are required to make sure that the water they supply
meets the MCL for each Phase V chemical. These are enforceable
standards. MCLs for Phase V chemicals are listed in Table 1.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs): For each
chemical, EPA has set a non-enforceable health goal which water
systems should try to achieve. Water containing a chemical in an
amount equal to or below its MCLG is not expected to cause any
health problems, even over a lifetime of drinking this water.
Applicability of MCLs
MCLs established under the Safe Drinking Water Act are
Federally enforceable standards for finished water provided by
Public Water Supply Systems. In addition, these standards are
often used as reference points for the protection and remediation of
water resources under several EPA programs as well as programs
implemented by other Federal agencies and States.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H Public Education Fact Sheet Series ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^|

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