United States          Office of Research and Development  EPA 600/8-79-020
              Environmental Protection     Office of Water and Waste Management March 1979
              Agency            Washington DC 20460
vEPA       Drinking  Water
              Research  Strategy
              1978 -  1980

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                                          March  1979
            DRINKING WATER

          RESEARCH STRATEGY

             1978 - 1980
  OFFICE OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
OFFICE OF WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

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                            PREFACE
    Beginning in 1977, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
undertook a comprehensive review of its research planning and
management and reported its findings to the Congress, submitting
The Planning and Management of Research and Development in June,
1978.  To address some of the problems identified, a pilot project
was initiated to examine the feasibility of planning research and
development programs by committees representing the Agency's primary
organizational elements.  This project was the first attempt with-
in EPA at a major joint planning effort between its research, re-
gulatory, and operational components.  Research Committees were
formed to plan programs in five areas—drinking water, industrial
wastewater, pesticides, mobile source air pollution, and particu-
late air pollution.  Each committee was co-chaired by the Office of
Research and Development (ORD) and the appropriate, corresponding
regulatory organization—the Office of Water and Waste Management;
the Office of Air, Noise and Radiation; or the Office of Toxic
Substances.

    This document describes the research and development strategy
developed by the Drinking Water Research Committee.  The strategy
reflects the current perspectives .of EPA's research needs and
research capabilities.  The document will serve as the basis for
detailed planning in those ORD laboratories implementing research
on drinking water.  To be properly responsive to evolving regula-
tory priorities and emerging scientific findings, however, the
strategy will be subject to at least one annual revision, in
concert with EPA's planning and budgeting cycle.
                                       Assistant Administrate r for
                                        Water and Waste Manaj ement

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                 TABLE OF CONTENTS






                                                  Page




ABSTRACT  	    1




INTRODUCTION  	    3




RESEARCH PLAN  	    7




    Organics  	    7




    Inorganics Including Asbestos  	   18




    Microbiological Contaminants  	   28




    Groundwater  	   38




SUMMARY OF RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION  	   42

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                                ABSTRACT


    The Drinking Water Research Strategy represents a collaborative effort

among several Offices of EPA including Research and Development, Drinking

Water, and the Regions to develop a research plan which will help develop

information to support present and future regulations for the safety of

drinking water.  The strategy contains general descriptions of both short

and long termed research for organic and inorganic chemicals, microbiolog-

ical contaminants, radionuclides, and for the protection of ground water

supplies*  There is a discussion of analytical, health effects and treatment

studies planned including the distribution of resources for FY-79 and 80.

    In response to the needs of the Office of Drinking Water, in the

Office of Water and Waste Management, this strategy addresses the

following specific categories where research is required:

    1.  The development of the efficacy of various disinfectants and
        the health effects of their end and byproducts.

    2.  The determination of acute and chronic health effects of various
        chemical (organic and inorganic), microbiological and radiological
        contaminants in drinking water.

    3.  The design and conduct of epidemiological studies, including the
        the development of data, to evaluate health effects of contaminants.

    4.  The development of new and improved analytical procedures and their
        verification for surface and ground water contaminants presently
        in regulations and those under consideration.

    5.  The development of new analytical indicators for organic contmi-
        nants, such as organic chlorine and rapid methods for microorganisms.

    6.  The development of more efficient and efficacious treatment techniques
        for removing contaminants including particulates from water serving
        community and noncommunity supplies.

    7.  The development of a treatment criteria, source water quality stan-
        dards and analytical capability to support development of Agency
        policy on direct potable wastewater reuse.

    8.  The development of detection and monitoring methodology and treat-
        ment technology for pipe corrosion control.

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    9.  The conduct of large-scale experimental treatment technology projects
        for organics control.

   10.  The development of criteria for the land application of wastes in
        order to specifically protect present and future underground sources
        of drinking water.

   11.  The development of health effects information for water treatment
        additives.

   12.  The development of design, performance, and operational criteria
        for small system and home treatment units.

   13.  The development of emergency response procedures and data file.

   14.  The development of quality assurance and quality control programs
        to support the implementation of the regulatory program*

   15.  The continued evaluation of efforts for radionuclide removal from
        drinking water.

    Research work has been in progress in many of these categories for

several years.  This document describes how EPA's research program plans

to respond to meet these current and future needs of the Office of Drinking

Water in a timely manner.

    The research plan is divided into four major categories:  organics,

inorganics (including asbestos), microbiologic contaminants and ground water

protection.  The plan addresses the research to be undertaken to determine

the occurrence, the health effects, monitoring requirements, control of treat-

ment by-products, and the effectiveness of treatment techniques.

    Past and planned allocation of research resources are attached showing

both in-house and extramural levels-of-effort assigned to each contaminant

category.

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                     DRINKING WATER RESEARCH STRATEGY






                               INTRODUCTION .







    The Environmental Protection Agency has an interest- and responsibility




in preserving the quality of water throughout the water cycle.  Legislative




Acts have been passed in recent years directing the Agency to develop programs




to control water pollution and set National Drinking Water Regulations.




Various EPA organizations or Program Offices have been assigned specific Acts




to implement and thus a certain portion of the water cycle problems are




handled by each Office.  In the case of the Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L.




93-523) the Office of Drinking Water (ODW) in the office of Water and Waste




Management is responsible for developing a Program Strategy that will




help implement this Act which is confined to the safety of Public Water




Systems.  Another office is implementing the other major water oriented




Act, P.L. 92-500, pertaining to water pollution control. There is much




similarity and chance for overlap in the research programs associated with




these two Acts, but the Agency has appointed a Research Committee with




members from the operating and research offices to minimize possible




overlaps and gaps in research.




    The Safe Drinking Water Act is reasonably specific in the responsibility




given to the Agency, so a "step-by-step" strategy has been developed to




explain the scheduling of future activities.  One necessary major element




of this strategy includes doing research to improve the scientific and




technical basis for National Drinking Water Regulations (Maximum Contaminant




levels (MCL's)) and Regualtions to protect the quality of ground water.




This issue has been reviewed by a non-government advisory committee formed

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to update the  1962 U.S.  Public Health  Service Drinking Water Standards, an

ad hoc group of  the Agency's  Science Advisory Board and the Nationsl Drink-

ing Water Advisory Council.   These groups  and others from within the Agency

Operating and  Research Offices determined  that research was necessary to

help answer the  following  primary questions:

    1.  What substances  occur in drinking  water supplies in a sufficient
        number of locations to warrant  regulation?

    2.  What are the  effects  of these  substances on human health?

    3.  What analytical  procedures should  be used to monitor water to
        assure that the  Revised Primary Drinking Water Regulations are met?

    4.  Because  some  of  these substances are formed during transport,
        storage, treatment and distribution, what changes in treatment
        practices are required to minimize the formation of these compounds
        in water delivered at the consumer's tap?

    5.  What treatment technology must  be  applied to reduce contaminant
        levels to the concentrations specified in the regulations?

    Although broad and general, these  questions are the ones the Agency

has decided to focus  on  to develop a defensible basis.for standards.  In

fact, these same questions apply if wastewater is being considered as a

water source for drinking. Inherent in all this research is a quality

assurance effort that helps certify laboratories and create valid data.

    In support of Part C,  P.L.  93-523, Protection of Underground Sources of

Drinking Water,  a separate research plan has been developed for ground water

and will be discussed later in this document.

    The process  for prioritizing of work areas involves mainly the Office

of Drinking Water from whence there has been an interpretation of the Safe

Drinking Water Act and the target dates therein.  They are also most aware

of shortcomings  iu cxi.5i.iug Inlurmation and the principal problems referred

to them from the Regions,  the National  Drinking Water Advisory Council, and

the National Academy  of  Sciences.  The  research staff, however, makes a major

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input to the selecting of priorities because of their experience on feasibility



of analytical measurements, the time it takes to conduct health effects and



engineering experiments, and cost of creating additional research data.



    The consequence of this evaluation was to attempt a balanced research



program that had elements of short- and long-range health effects studies,



as well as efforts to improve analytic methods and treatment techniques*



For FY79 (See Table 4), this means approximately 41 percent of the 18



million dollar budget will go to Health Effects projects (many of which are



done jointly with Department of Health, Education and Welfare), 37 percent



to treatment, 11 percent to analytical improvement, and 11 percent to ground



water management•



    The largest area of ignorance is with the measurement, long-range



potential harmful effects and treatment of trace organics, so approximately



43 percent of the funds will be directed toward that problem.  The second



highest priority is the relationship of inorganic quality and asbestos



fibers on health, so a large effort will be made in this area, too.  This



is especially true regarding the difference in the incidence of cardiovas-



cular disease for those consumers that drink hard, instead of soft water.



Microbiological contaminant occurrence, monitoring, effects and control



remain a relatively high public health priority because outbreaks of



waterborne disease still occur in the United States, especially in poorly



operated distribution systems.  The distribution systems in general need



more study to understand and control corrosion.  Finding cost-effective



treatment units to remove most any of these contaminants from small water



supplies that are in noncompliance is also an aspect that needs greater
                       »


attention.

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    Work has been in progress in these areas for several years, but the




plans discussed within this docuemt will attempt, with the limited resources




available, to respond to the current and future needs of the Office of Drink-




ing Water and the Regions in a timely manner.  They will be in general terms




and will parallel the five primary questions that need answers in each major




contaminant category.  Further details regarding specific projects are avail-




able from the five EPA Laboratory Directors having some responsibility for




water research or the Drinking Water Research Coordinator.  Written quarterly




reports are sent to all interested operating and research staff, but some




oral communication also is conducted almost daily with officials in the field




and at headquarters.

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                                  Research Plan


A.   Organics •


     1.  Occurrence


                    OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS


     Occurrence data in finished drinking water - continuing


     Variance guidance for organic regulations - January 1979


                                ORD RESPONSE


     Determining the location, concentration and the .frequency of occurrence of


contaminants of toxicological significance in drinking water is a necessary first


step for evaluating their health effects and treatment requirements..  Consequently


major surveys of water quality have been, and are still being conducted to help


establish the extent of the problems.


     Several surveys including sampling from over 100 locations (National Organics


Monitoring Survey) indicated the presence "of some trace organics in most drinking


waters, especially chloroform in those that are chlorinated.  Seasonal samples have


been taken at 113 locations and an analysis has been made for about 20 specific


organic compounds that were selected because they were reported as having been

                                      i                                              •
found in some source or treated waters,  they have a known or suspected toxicological.


importance, and they can be analytically quantified.  The companion general indicators


were selected as possible surrogates that may simplify future monitoring for compliance


if a relationship can be found between one of these and several of the principal


specific contaminants that occur frequently in significant concentration.


     The first three phases of this survey, conducted jointly by ODW,  the Regions,


and ORD within EPA,  was in 1977 and the  principal findings released by the Administrator


in January 1978.   Additional extensive analyses have been made on organic  reverse


osmosis (RO)  concentrates from a few representative treated drinking waters,  so the


list of organics  found in all waters analyzed now contains nearly 700 compounds.

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      '["no  most  recent  survey,  conducted in eight  locations,  was  an attempt  to  ap




 a new purging  technique developed in Switzerland to  determine an  organic profile




 in  raw and  finished waters.   In  addition to  this technique  the  other  analyses




 made  were:   trihalomethane and associated compounds  by  "conventional" purge-and-




 trap,  total organic carbon (TOC) ,  non-purgeable  carbon  adsorbable organic  halogen




 (NPCAOX), and  polynuclear'aromatic hydrocarbons  (PAH).




      These  past  surveys,  plus those currently  going 'on  should satisfy the  ODW




 needs.  As  needed  future  surveys  will be conducted by both  ORD  and ODW after joint




 consultation.  For example,  the  "National Screening  Program for Organics"  is




 currently (1978) being  sponsored  by ODW and  will attempt  to measure a wide variety




 of  organics in some 400 finished  waters.   The  completion  of the "Master Analytical




 Scheme"  (see below) in  FY 1980 will allow even broader  based surveys  to seek the




 occurrence  of  hitherto  unanalyzable organic  compounds.  A continuing  project will




 annually  compile and  publish  (and  also make  available in  computerized information




 systems)  all reliable information  generated  throughout  the  world  on the occurrence




 of  trace  organics  in  drinking water.   The first  copy of this Distribution  Register




 of  Organic  Pollutants (Water  DROP)  will be published in 1979.




      2.  Health  Effects




                    OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS




      Organic MCL's for  key compounds  (frequently occurring  carcinogens  identified




          by NAS)  FY  1979




     MCL for surrogates (e.g.  organic halogen  (OX)) FY 1979




     Health effects of  disinfectants  and  disinfection by-products









     Direct  and indirect  additives




     Detailed  epidemiological  studies




                                    ORD  RESPONSE




     As the  results from  the  previously mentioned and continuing surveys show




which contaminants occur  in treated drinking water, the literature on the  toxicity




of the most   prevalent materials will be reexamined, and,  if necessary data  are




                                      8

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lackin;;, selected toxicological studies will be conducted.  Acceptable daily




intakes  (ADI) will be developed for additional compounds  to supplement the




National Academy of Sciences  (N'AS) report.  Other intakes will be reviewed  to




allow for establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCL's) from the ADI's by the




FY 1979  target date.




     •Additionally, within FY78 and FY79,  the anticipated output of the organics program




of the Health Effects Research Laboratory (HERL) will consist of preliminary data on




the mutagenic and carcinogenic activity of organic mixtures from tap water.




     Completed cpidemiological studies give only tentative suggestions to support




reducing organic exposure.  In addition, most available data are drawn from onetime




measurements, and coverage of water supplies is not extensive.  Specific well planned




studies starting from cancer cases in communities with high rates are now being conducted




and should be completed by FY79 and 80.  The drinking water quality will be defined




by botli a chemical analysis and bioassay screening test.  Health risk assessment




of these epidcmiological, chemical survey, and bioassay data can provide guideline




limits for several chemicals.




     Even the nearly 700 compounds identified so far represent only a small




fraction of the organic chemicals in drinking water.  Consequently, efforts are




being made to develop bioassay procedures that are indicative of specific health




effects risks that may be used for drinking water monitoring.   Test systems that




currently exist (e.g., Ames test)  may lack the necessary sensitivity to work with




unconcentrated waters and have questionable quantitative and qualitative relation-




ships to human health risk.   Nevertheless, serious consideration must be given to




new or modified methods to characterize the hazards  associated with drinking water




supplies.  If such methods can be  developed,  standardized and  practically applied,




they may be substituted for detailed chemical analyses that  would arise from




establishing MCL's on individual compounds.

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      Statistical analyses of data collected may provide estimates  of  the  possible




 occurrence  of  hazardous concentrations of specific chemicals  in relation  to




 concentrations of some general organic parameter such as organic halogen  by




 November  1979, just past the target date.




      Chemicals added for treatment purposes (direct additives)  and chemicals arising




 from  the  distribution system of public water supplies (indirect additives) have been




 neglected areas in the past.  HERL is currently working with  the ODW  in designing




 protocols for  the testing required as a prerequisite to approval of their use  in




 drinking  water.    Research is currently underway or planned or  both to define




 hazards associated with chemicals that have been generally accepted in the past




 (e.g., polyphosphates,  alternate disinfectants, and organic tin stabilizers of




 PVC pipe) .




      Reaction  products  of chlorination-and proposed alternate disinfectants will




 be bioassayed  by both in vitro and in vivo techniques.   Long-term  studies will be




 conducted on the effects of disinfectants and  supplemented with epidemiological




 studies when possible by calendar year 1979.   Such studies should  provide data




 useful in assessing alternate disinfection practices  as  called  for  by ODW.




      In the meantime,  other research  groups, particularly within the Department




 of Health,  Education and Welfare,  will continue studies  on hundreds of organic




 compounds many of which have been found  in water or food.  EPA  maintains  a ciost:




 liaison with these groups by having a representative  serve on an Interagency




 lexicological  Review Committee.   Thus National  Institutes of Health (NIH)  planners
                . C t.'T> A ' ,. 1-
     3.  Monitoring Requirements




                   OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS




     The analytic needs submitted were in  two categories, one related to existing




and proposed organic regulations and the other to longer range requirements.  These




Needs and which laboratory is working on them are listed below.
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   ORGANIC REGULATION
                                                         FUTURE
1)  Total Organic Carbon (completed)

2)  GAC Criteria 1 compounds (EMSL)

3)  Trihalomethanes (EMSL)

4)  Appendix A Compounds (62)  (EMSL)

5)  Disinfectant Residuals


     a)  Ozone (EMSL)

     b)  Chlorine Dioxide (Athens)

     c)  Chloramincs (Athens)

     d)  Chlorine (EMSL)


     e)  Iodine

6)  Pesticides (6) (EMSL)
                                               1)   Non-GC able compounds* (Athens)

                                                   a)   Disinfectant By-Products

                                                   b)   GAC By-products

                                                   c)   Occurrence

                                               2)   Identification of GC able Compounds
                                                     by non-MS* (Athens)

                                                   a)   Disinfection By-Products

                                                   b)   GAC By-Products

                                                   c)   Occurrence

                                               3)   Organic halogen group  parameter  (OX)
                                                   (DWRD,  EMSL, Athens)



                                               4)   Organic nitrogen group parameter (ON)

                                               5)   Specific Compounds (Athens)

                                               6)   Frequently  occurring Carcinogens
                                                   (EMSL)

                                               •7)   Bioassay (HERL)

* Particularly those that occur  frequently.

                                     ORD RESPONSE

     Analytical procedures will  be needed in  two categories depending on how a

Regulation is written.  Research is being conducted  to  improve the methods  for

these two needs:

     (1)  Monitoring Techniques  for All Aspects of a Regulation

Methods write-ups have been provided for total organic  carbon  and  trihalomethanes.

Extramural studies involving two grants should lead to  improvements  in the  measure-

ment of volatile organics by purge/trap and the liquid-liquid  extraction techniques

in FY79.  Researcli studies have begun on the GAC Criteria  1 compounds  with  goals

of minimum detection limits (MDLs)  of 0.5 to 1.0 Mg/1.  A  status report  on  methodology

for 62  Appendix "A" compounds has been provided to ODW.  These methodology  studies,
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 involving methods validation, will be completed in FY79.   Methods  references or




 writeups  or  both for chlorine dioxide and chlbramines  will be  available October




 1979;  methodology currently approved for chlorine,  involving  the use of DPD color-




 imetric  test kits,  will be critically reviewed concurrently.   Interim methods for




 the measurement  of  the pesticides required in the NIPDW Regulations are available




 and upper acceptance limits for these contaminants  will be established in early




 FY79.




      (2)   Monitoring Techniques for Specific  Organics  Found to be  Widely Distributed




     and  of  Health  significance.




 Instrumental methodology research will continue on  improved techniques for the




 measurement  of total organic chlorine and total organic halogen, and for the




 measurement  of organics in drinking water by  an automated  low cost GC/MS system.




 These  extramural studies are scheduled for completion  in FYs 79 and 80.  Methods




 research  will also  be continued on the carcinogens  cited in the Federal Register as




 recommendation by the NAS that occur frequently;  validated methods should be avail-




 able in FY79.




     A protocol,  referred to as the Master Analytical  Scheme, will be developed




 to permit qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of all organic compounds in




 drinking  water that  will pass through a  gas chromatograph  (GC able).  The scheme,




which  can be  usud for comprehensive surveys, will be available in Aptii 13SO.   Con-




current with  the  completion  of the  Master  Analytical Scheme will be a report on the




cost effectiveness of various alternatives  for  establishing the occurrence of




organics  in drinking  water  through  chemical analysis.
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     Reports will be published  in April 1980 and April  1981 summarizing  the




 development of  techniques  to  identify and measure non-gas chromatographable




 organics  in drinking water.   These compounds are currently ignored as  individual




 components.  Also currently ignored are compounds that  cannot be identified  from




 their mass spectra alone.  Other techniques for identification of such compounds




 will be evaluated, with  the results and identification  of the compounds  studied




 being reported  in August-1979.




     Results of investigations  to improve surrogate methods for "total organic




 chlorine" and "total organic  nitrogen" will be reported in late 1979.  Preliminary




 assessment will also be made  in late 1.979 of the feasibility of attempting to




•ir.iprove methods to measure disinfection residuals.




     4.   Control of By-Products from Treatment




                      OFFICE  OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS




     Trihalomcthane and  treatment requirement amendments - November 1978




     Disinfection with chloramincs




     By-products from GAG - September 1978




     Treatment of water plant sludges




                                    ORD RESPONSE




     The various analytic surveys have demonstrated that certain organic compounds




 persist through rivers, reservoirs,  treatment,  and distribution systems,  while




others are formed during water  treatment and occur on a widespread basis.  Pilot




plant activities have provided  data on the ability of changes  in disinfection




 (ozone,  chlorine dioxide, or chloramines or change in chlorination practice)and




other changes in treatment practices  to reduce  considerably certain chlorination




by-products.




     This work is  currently studying  the four  trihalomethanes  that  have been  shown




to occur widely where chlorination  is  practiced  and  are carcinogenic  compounds or
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are of potential carcinogonicity and  therefore arc in the proposed organic Regulation.


     In addition to  these  smaller scale pilot plant studies, several extramural


large-scale pilot plant and  full-plant scale research projects began in FY77.


These projects will  help reinforce  the findings already available and shed light


on the fate of various organics, not  only in treatment, but throughout the entire


system — raw water  reservoir  to tap.


     In summary, although  all  the daca will not be available by the ODW need date


of November 1978, sufficient information will be available to prepare a Treatment


Manual for the Control of  Trihalomethanes.  An Interim Guide has already been


written, June 1976.  This Manual will  help the EPA Regional Offices, the State


Regulatory Offices,  and utilities with high trihalomethane concentrations obtain


compliance with the  proposed regulation for trihalomethanes.


     Treatment of water plant  sludge  is not currently being researched by the


Wastewater Research  Division,  MERL, Cincinnati, but they maintain a repository of


information from past studies  to be used for guidance.


     5.  Treatment to Reduce Organic  Contaminants


                         OFFICE OF DRINKING 'WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS

                                                                                      i
     Control technology regarding removal of organics by using biological activated


     carbon


     Full-scale demonstration  projects to remove organic chemicals from drinking wat«


     Emergency response treatment data


     Update cost periodically


                                    GRD RESPONSE


     The lack of unequivocal health effects data related to organic contaminants


in drinking water will not relieve the Agency's responsibility to act in a prudent


manner to prescribe  treatment  when a reasonable doubt exists and monitoring is


not practical.  Environmental contaminants have already been identified in specific


locations that  pose questions  related to their potential health effects.   Field-

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.scale research projects in conjunction with utilities, and local and State




governments,, will be conducted to study  the capability of certain  treatment proces.ses




to remove environmental contaminants within reasonable economic limits.  Although




Regulations are only proposed at  this time, the results of these studies are




necessary to show what the existing technology will accomplish under actual operating




conditions.




     The contaminants will be selected for study based on the existing data collected




in the various surveys and in consultation with ODW.  This list will be expanded to




fclude additional compounds that  may be discovered in additional surveys as




candidates for future control.




     Extra-mural research, bench, pilot and full scale, is underway at this time,




awards were made during 1976, 1977 and 1978.  Unit processes such as coagulation,




granu.l;ir activated carbon beds, powdered  activated carbon, macroreticular resins,




ozonation, aeration, ozonation/ultraviolet (0-/UV), and chlorine dioxide are




being studied.  Emphasis will be  placed on_large scale experimental applications




of control technology in support  of the proposed Regulation for organic chemicals.




Preliminary data on the ability to remove specific environmental contaminants




of concern have been generated.   Additional work will refine this type of information.




In all cases, a careful evaluation will'be made on the effect of disinfection




alternatives.  Pilot scale studies of ozone enhanced granular activated carbon




adsorption (BAG) have been started in Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Miami and       .•••••




Shreveport to determine treatment efficiency as well as the determination of any




undesirable side-effects.  Reprogramming of $0.5 million from ODW and $1.0M within




ORD will allow another major plant-scale evaluation to be made of GAC,  plus




reactivation starting in 1979.  Two to three years will be needed to determine design




criteria and total costs.




     An Interim Guide developed from the on-going projects was published in January 1978




to support the Agency's proposed Treatment Regulation using granular activated carbon




adsorption.   A Manual for the Control of Synthetic Organic Contaminants will be




prepared if the proposed Regulation is promulgated.




     Extensive extra-mural research is being  conducted to  determine  the cost of

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  organic removal  unit  processes.   The  development  and  periodic updating of  these unit
 costs will help  the  ODW assess the national  impact of  any proposed regulation.

     In-house  capability is being developed  that will  allow  the collection  of activated
 carbon  treatability  data for a wide variety  of  organic compounds.  The compounds
 for  test will  be  selected in conjunction wich ODW.   In addition, technical assistance
 regarding pilot  granular activated carbon column studies will be given jointly with
 ODW  to  help utilities  determine the type of  carbon and contactor system that would
 be most cost-effective for their  water and location.

     6.  Wastewater  Reuse

                       OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER  AND REGIONAL"NEEDS

     Safety of Waste Water Reuse

     Water Reuse  Treatment Efficiency  and Reliability

                                     ORD RESPONSE

     This research program will evaluate the potential health effects associated
 with reuse of  highly treated municipal wastewater  for  potable purposes, with the
 ultimate objective being to develop the data base  to set criteria for such use.
 As bioassay techniques are developed in conventional drinking water research,
 they can then  be  applied to the reuse  situation.   A coordinated effort will be
 conducted with EPA's Wastewatcr Research Division, MERL, Cincinnati, in order to
 evaluate treatment efficiency and cost in conjunction  with the health effects
 program.  Over the next 5 to 10 years  a new  1—mgd  system will be constructed and
 operated at Denver,  Colorado to help implement  a scale-up of previous studies
 and provide feed  stock from the final  effluent  for life-time animal feeding
 experiments as well  as other short-term bioassays.  The emphasis will be on
 testing organic residues.

 Resource Distribution  for Qrgnnics

     A major portion of the drinking water resources are assigned to this  category
 of organics.  Table  1  simply shows  that  most of the research effort is in  the
 health effects and treatment areas.  At  present, there is no intent to make sudden
 changes in personnel or money assignments  in FY79 or 80.  Approximately $577K
 of the health effort and  $324K of analytic improvement budgets are devoted to
 long-range or exploratory studies.   On  the other hand,  the treatment and quality.
 assurance projects are considered  to be  in direct support of regulatory needs.

     A special .-illottment  of  funds  ($8  million)  for reuse studies was made by  Congress
and these have been  assigned  to the  Wactevatar Research Division of the Municipal
 Environmental Research  Laboratory in Cincinnati for management purposes.   Health
and water treatment  experts  of  EPA will  help in the planning and review of any
reuse project designed  to  investigate making potable water from wastewnter.
Seve'n million dollars will  be  given  to Denver to help with their $21,000,000 reuse
project, and one million will  be used  to help a variety of other re-use projects "
in the  United States.
                                        16

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                                    Table 1.   RESEARCH RESOURCES

                                 ORCANICS AND DISINFECTION BY-PRODUCTS

Athens
(Occurrence
& Monitoring)
EMSL
(Monitoring)
HERL
(Occurrence
FY-78
Extra-
In-Housc Mural
W-Y $K $K
1 30 468


0 0 200

25 1,000 1,774

& Health Effects) -. •
MERL
(By-product
& Treatment)
Reuse
Total
17 510 2,450



43 1,540 4,892
Total
$K
498


200

2,774


2,960



6,432
FY-79
In-House
W-Y $K
2 60


0 0

20 800 2


17 '510 4



39 1,370 8,
Extra-
Mural
$K
312


200

,841


,777



130
Total
$K
372


200

3,641


5,287



9,500
FY-80 (Estimate)
In-House
W-Y $R
2 60


0 0

20 900


17 510


- '
56 . 1,470
Extra-
Mural
$K
235


200

2,840


3,232


1,000
7,507
Total
$K
295


200

3,640**


3,742


1,000
8,877**
Note:  The $425K planned for the research on the Health Effects of renovated wastewater reuse could be considered
       to be largely devoted to organic problems, although it is not included in this table for organics.
       Additionally, $7,000,000 will be given to Denver Water Department to help them with'their $21,000,000
       wastewater reuse, 1 mgd pilot plant; and $1,000,000 will support a few other reuse projects at other
       locations.

*These figures contain $1.5M reprogrammed to supplement large-scale treatment plant evaluations.

"'^'Approximately $5M will be added to this Health Effects work in FY-80 through a special Public Health Initiative.

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B.   Inorganics  Including  Asbestos




     1.  Occurrence




                       OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS




     The Office  of Drinking Water  (ODW) has expressed a need for data on the




occurrence of plutoniura, radon, radium 228 and metals from corrosive water




in drinking water.   In addition, the National Drinking Water Requirements call for




a comprehensive  review of  a number of inorganic MCL's, including fluoride, nitrates,




selenium, lead,  cadmium, arsenic, sodium in FY 1979 and national secondary




regulations for  corrosion  and hardness by January 1979.




                                     ORD RESPONSES




     Analysis has been made of water supplied to Interstate Carriers for many years.




Recently substances  beyond those in the 1962 PHS Standards or current EPA Primary




Regulations such as  socium and lithium hav ebeen measured.  Additionally, 82




inorganic constituents  have been determined in tap water from 35 areas of the U.S.  chosen




to be representative of the U.S. population and surveys have been conducted in areas




where corrosive  drinking water is distributed.  A mobile laboratory will be stationed




in various utility distribution systems that have mixing problems to monitor for gradual




or sudden changes in 16 different parameters.  Although these projects are of




a continuing nature, significant progress will be made by October 1978,  and thus




some guidance can be given to ODW about possible needs for inclusion of  more




constituents in  the  Regulations or what the cost to comply will be for




current as well  as proposed MCL's.  Existing
                                           18

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data on the occurrence of radionuclides other than those for which standards




have been set will be gathered and supplemented by surveys to determine the




occurrence of plutonium, radon, and radium 228 in drinking water to provide ODW




with guidance about the possible needs for inclusion of these radionuclides in




the Regulations.




    2.  Health Effects




            OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS




     The Office of Drinking Water Operating Plan calls for a variance guidance




for fluorides in September 1978, the administrators recommended MCL's for lead,




arsenic, asbestos, cadmium, and selenium in August 1978, national secondary




drinking water regulations for corrosion and hardness in January 1979, comprehensive




revised primary drinking water regulations for fluoride, nitrates,  selenium,




lead, cadmium, arsenic, and sodium in FY 1979, revision of radionuclides and




assessment of cardiovascular disease.  In addition, ODW has expressed needs for




health effects data on molybdenium, uranium, chromium (6) versus chromium (3),




studies to evaluate the relative contributions of each contaminant from the




various environmental exposure to total human body burden, studies to determine




mechanisms of action along the dose response curve for each contaminant investigated,




and additional information concerning the antagonistic and synergistic effects




of combinations of waterborne contaminants.




                           ORD RESPONSES




    Current and continuing epidemiology studies are being conducted,




with the cooperation of other Federal Agencies, to establish the relationship  of




cardiovascular disease (particularly hypertension of 4200 individuals in 35




areas) and drinking water quality including sodium and 35 other parameters.  A
                                        19

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preliminary report will be available in 1978.  Additional epidemiological studies




are underway to relate cardiovascular disease, especially hypertension, to




drinking water constituents such as barium, cadmium, calcium, sodium, magnesium,




lithium, iron, lead, zinc, 'and copper.  The impact of various combinations and




concentrations of calcium, magnesium, lead, cadmium, and sodium in water on the




development of cardiovascular disease is also being studied in experimental




animals.  The bioavailability of metals such as selenium, lead, and cadmium in




hard and soft waters and foods are being compared.  Epidemiologic studies on the




relationship between hard and soft water and urolithiasis are also in progress.




These are all long-term studies which will be completed in the next several




years but some data will be available in FY 1979.




    Intake and human body burden are being determined for corrosion products in




drinking water as well as arsenic and selenium.  The epidemiology studies of




arsenic and selenium will include health effects parameters.   Preliminary




reports on barium, arsenic, and selenium will be available by July 1978, but




most work will take another year or two to complete.




    Toxicological studies are being conducted on lead to determine whether




central nervous system development is delayed at blood lead levels in the normal




human range.  The effects of organotin compounds used as stabilizers in NSF




approved PVC pipe are being investigated and the effects of molybdenum on




exoerimental animals and humans are being studied in relationshio to gout.  A
                                       20

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report reviewing the possibility of recommending a drinking water standard for




molybdenum should be completed by December 1978.  The relationship of abnormal




physiological behavior and water quality is also being studied with constituents




such as cadmium, lead, chromium, selenium, and manganese included.  Additional




studies on nitrates in'drinking water are being conducted to determine the




relationship of various cancers to nitrate concentration and to determine if




methemoglobinemia still occurs in high nitrate areas of the U. S.  These should




be completed in FY 79.




    Asbestos animal feeding studies to determine if asbestos is a carcinogen




when ingested have been jointly designed with Department of Health, Education,




and Welfare and started in 1977.  EPA will sponsor about 10 percent of this




contract research.  Considerable time and effort went into selecting the research




objectives and test protocol so that both industry and regulatory officials were




satisfied.  This work will, however, still take 3 to 4 years to complete, so




some small, short-time animal experiments are also being sponsored to develop




some insight as to the consequence of fiber length and mechanism of asbestos as




a co-carcinogen.  Tritium tagged fibers will also be used to understand the




extent of adsorption and distribution in rats.   Several epidemiological studies




are being conducted to determine if asbestos from natural erosion, mining




operations, and asbestos-cement pipe is a contributing factor in increased




cancer rates.  Preliminary results were available in 1977 from Connecticut




where exposures are low (less than 1 million fibers per liter) and the final
                                        21

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report will be completed in 1978.  Reports from California and Florida where




exposures are in the 1-10 million fibers per liter range will be available in




early 1979.  Updated reports on Duluth and new data from the Pacific Northwest




where exposures reach 100 million fibers per liter will be available in 1980.




Cell line testing of asbestos fibers used in the feeding study and other experiments




will provide some insight into the mechanism of action and carcinogenic potential.'




    A cooperative study with the National Institute of Dental Health is now




underway to determine if increased fluoride levels from other environmental




sources has significantly affected fluoride intake to warrant a revision of the




current fluoride standard.  Dental mottling will be studied and results are




expected in approximately two years.




    One epidemiologic study of drinking water and cancer will include radionuclide.




data, however, this may not be sufficient to determine if a revision for radionuclide




regulations is necessary.  Additional studies,must be carried out on specific




radionuclides, and it is expected that other agencies or groups within EPA that




have this expertise will conduct these studies.




    All of these studies will aid in improving the basis for a factor of safety




associated with any standard which in turn will help point out the treatment




research studies that should be conducted to minimize the cost for implementing




the Regulations.
                                           22

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     3.  Monitoring Requirements




          OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS




     ODW and the REgions expressed a need for research in the analytical




area including sample collection, precision, accuracy and methodology.  WhSnever




standards are set appropriate research on sample collection, shipping and methodology




should be done.




                                  ORD RESPONSES




     Methods are available for measuring the inorganic constituents in the




Interim Primary Regulations, but many of these can be improved upon as to cost




or ease of use.  Multi-element analysis, for example, is one approach that will




help Central Laboratories to handle many more samples in a given time.  Some of




the methods being studied include spark source mass spectrometry, inductively




couple plasma emission spectrometry, and instrumental neutron activation analysis..




     Within FY79 EMSL will provide precision, accuracy and sensitivity data for




the methods for analyzing the inorganics in the Interim Primary Drinking Water




Regulations.




     Efforts are also being made to improve sample collection, shipping, storage,




and preparation for asbestos fiber counting.  Although a committee review and




decision was made in July 1976 to accept a certain method for fiber counting




with the electron microscope, work will continue to improve the ease, accuracy,




and expense of rapid screening methods as well as electron microscopy.




     4.  Control of By-Products From Treatment




          OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS




     ODW expressed a need to understand and control the treatment of water so




as to minimize the deterioration of quality during distribution to the consumer's




tap.  Lead and asbestos fibers from pipes are of particular concern.
                                         23

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                                ORD RESPONSES




    Many chemicals are involved in reducing the concentration of inorganics of




particulates such as asbestos.  Careful review is being made as to shift in




valence state or organic coraplexing with inorganic ions during treatment so we




do not create a new problem while trying to solve the original one.  Polymers




used to improve coagulation or filtration is one example being investigated.




Still another example is the reduction of radium, iron, manganese, and calcium




by zeolite softening, which in turn increases the concentration of undesirable




sodium.  Sulfates are frequently added during treatment and many processes such




as ion-exchange or reverse osmosis create concentrated residues that have been




ignored in the past, as far as a water treatment cost.  All of these possibili-




ties are now being considered as an integral part of any treatment system




designed to help meet regulations economically and not cause other adverse




environmental impact.




    5.   Treatment to Reduce Inorganic Contaminants




                    OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS




    ODW requested that a cost effective method be developed to remove




several inorganic contaminants from drinking water,  so as to enable small water




systems to meet the regulation;  The more troublesome ones are nitrate,  arsenic,




fluoride, radium  and selenium.  There is also a continuing need to understand




and control corrosion byproducts by applying appropriate chemicals and treatment




before distribution.




                           ORD RESPONSES




    Bench- and pilot-scale studies are in progress or have been con-




cluded on the following inorganic contaminants:  arsenic, cadmium.




chromium, barium, selenium, lead, mercury, and nitrate-nitrogen.   The
                                       24

-------
thrust of these studies is to determine the effectiveness of conven-




tional water treatment unit processes alum and iron coagulation, lime,




and excess lime softening, powdered and granular activated carbon and




ion-exchange—on the removal of these contaminants.  While no one unit




process is effective for removing all contaminants, good success has




been obtained with one unit process or another for each of the con-




taminants studied with the exception of the oxidized form of selenium




which is poorly removed by any unit process thus far studied.  Future




work will attempt to focus on treatment technology that small water




utilities could use, especially to reduce fluoride, arsenic, nitrate,




and selenium.  These studies will not be completed in 1978, but they




should have progressed far enough to help support a revised treatment




manual for certain inorganics.  Field testing and cost analysis are




still a necessary part of future work that will be reported after full-




scale evaluation.




    In addition, research has started to determine if the degree and




type of treatment can be managed well enough to prevent deterioration of




inorganic quality during distribution and storage.  This pertains to




asbestos-cement and plastic pipe as well as metal pipes.  Reports are




out on the issue of vinyl chloride migrating from polyvinyl chloride




(PVC) pipe and work is continuing on A/C pipe and metal pipes such as




lead and galvanized iron.




    One pilot-scale research project on asbestos removal is complete.




The extra-mural research conducted in Duluth, Minnesota during the late




winter and early spring of 1975 demonstrated the effectiveness of







                                  25

-------
multiple media granular filtration for the removal of amosite-type




asbestos fibers provided  that the proper combination of coagulants and




polyelectrolytes were used ahead of the filters. 'A demonstration grant




was awarded  to Duluth to  verify these findings on a full-plant scale




test and continue  the research attempting to demonstrate even more




effective removal  particularly of the chrysotile-type fibers.  The plant




went into operation early in 1977.  In addition, Seattle, Washington has




a research grant to study fiber removal in an area where the fibers are




almost exclusively chrysotile rather than the majority being in the




amphibole class as was the case in Duluth.  It has already been demon-




strated that zeolite exchange, reverse osmosis, and conventional treat-




ment are successful in removing some radionuclides such as radium.  ODW




expressed a need for evaluation of the health trade-off of removing




radium with a treatment technique that will increase sodium levels in




drinking water.  This issue can be addressed as additional health ef-




fects data are accumulated for sodium.




Resource Distribution (see Table 2)




     In FY-78, approximately 30 percent of the total funds were devoted




to this category of inorganics and asbescos with about 65 percent of




the inorganic portion assigned to health effects.  There are-no long range




exploratory projects in the treatment and quality assurance areas.  How-




ever, 23 percent of total funds involve exploratory studi.es in i.he health




and analytic improvement  area.
                                  26

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                                      Table 2.   RESEARCH RESOURCES
                                INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS INCLUDING ASBESTOS
Location
HERL-Cinti.
(Occurrence and
Health Effects)
MERL-Cinti.
(Treatment and
Distribution)
Athens
(Occurrence
and Monitoring)
Total
FY-78
Extra-
In-House Mural
W-Y $K $K
19 760 2,215
25 750 768
1 30 300
45 1,540 3,283
Total
$K
2,975
1,518
330
4,823
FY-79
In-House
W-Y $K
15 600
17 480
1 30
33 1,110
Extra-
Mural Total
$K $K
1,750 2,350
699 1,179
415 445
(7Y-80 (Estimate)
In-House
W-Y $K
14 560
13 510
1 30
2,864 3,974 28 1,100
1
Extra-
Mural Total
$K $K
1,790 2,350
1,025 1,535
390 520
3,305 4,405
Note:  Cost analysis studies are also performed for all contaminants including inorganics,  but  they are not
        included in this table.

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C.  Microbiological Contaminants




             OFFICE OF DRINKING WATER AND REGIONAL NEEDS




     The proposed regulations for the Control of Organic Chemical Contami-




nants in Drinking Water address several issues that could have a direct




effect on the microbiological quality of drinking water.  These include




a) the use of modified water treatment techniques including-activated carbon




and changing the point of disinfection, b) the use of alternate disinfectants




to chlorine such as chlorine dioxide, ozone, and chloramines, c) application




of the standard plate count as a means of evaluating changes in the sanitary




quality of water, and d) how all of these factors might be integrated to




effect the overall quality of water.




     Based upon these issues, short term research needs have been identified




by the Office of Drinking Water and are being addressed in this research




strategy document.  The needs include a health risk evaluation of proposed




treatment modifications to minimize organic content in water, the microbial




impact of alternative treatment methods to control organics, choice of




disinfectant, standard plate count as an indicator of water quality, and




the significance of microbial toxins.  This research should be accomplished




within six months to one year.




     Increased longer termed emphasis should be placed upon the environmental




factors, control through treatment, and identification of etiological agents




in waterborne outbreaks cf gastroenteritis.




                             ORD RESPONSE




     1.  Occurrence




         Limited surveys conducted by the Agency, using the best avail-




able analytic procedures, have not recovered virus from water adequately




treated for drinking and cooking purposes.  They have, however, shown that
                                         28

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viruses are present at water plant intakes.   A report on the variation




in viral numbers with seasons and on the ratio of coliform to virus in




source and in finished water will be available in 1979.   Pending the




development of pilot' plants for the direct production of drinking water




from wastewater, studies will be initiated with the most sensitive methods




available to determine the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in these




waters.  A two year project is being conducted to evaluate (in various




geographical locations) animal survey and filtration methods of identifying




water systems which contain Giardia cysts in the raw or treated water.  This




study will be completed in 1980.  Raw and treated waters from several sites




are being investigated for the occurrence of Yersinia.  The potential for




drinking water to transmit drug resistant coliforms will be examined through




surveys of water supplies for these organisms.




     Surveys are being made of distribution systems where biologic growths




may cause accelerated corrosion.  Another field study involves investiga-




tion of the effectiveness of disinfection in cross-connection control.




Initial reports from grantees on these projects and from in-house work




will be available in 1979.




     The measurement of endotoxin activity correlated with microbial and




chemical parameters in distribution systems, especially those with open




finished water reservoirs, is being investigated.  Endotoxins from algae




will be biochemically characterized and compared with bacterial endotoxins.




The research project, which is to be completed in 1979,  should yield




relationships describing limits for endotoxin activity and methods of




control.
                                   29

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     2.  Health Effects




         Waterborne outbreaks of infectious diseases are investigated in




cooperation with the Center for Disease Control with the objective of




identifying the etiological agents in water, determining the route of




entry and recommending corrective action to prevent reoccurrence.   Results




of these investigations arc periodically reported in established CDC publi-




cations, ORD Quarterly Reports as well as the open scientific literature.




Improved surveillance and reporting of outbreaks can be achieved through




application of an existing State program grant mechanism promulgated under




the Safe Drinking Water Act.  A pilot program, which includes assignment of




an investigative team to a State, is under consideration for 1979 to inves-




tigate consumer complaints, monitor bacteriological quality, and conduct




epidemiological studies.  The pilot program may also include in-depth




surveillance of water quality and disease in community water systems that




are granted a variance from the turbidity MCL.




     Clinical cases of yersiniosis are being epidemiologically investigated




to determine the significance of drinking water in transmission of the




causative organism.  A finaL report will be available in 1980.  Pending




development of suitable methodology, the occurrence and health effects of




enterotoxigenic E. coli in drinking water will be determined.  Speciation




of organisms present in drinking water will be effected in order to deter-




mine the non-pathogen vs. pathogen populations and the potential risk to




health of these organisms.




     The number of viral particles required to product an infection is




an important factor in evaluating the waterborne viral health risk.  Studies




are ongoing in human and animal models to determine the minimum dose of




virus needed to produce infection.  Final reports on two studies will be




available in 1979.






                                  30

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     3.  Monitoring Requirements




         The concept of using indicator organisms instead of measuring




for several or nearly all pathogens in water is frequently challenged, so




considerable effort is being directed to evaluate the efficacy of the coli-




form test.  Exploratory research on a surrogate indicator for viruses in




water is needed.  Several projects are on-going to determine under what




field conditions interfering organisms or turbidity can prevent coliform




growth and the significance that stressed organisms and regrowth potential




have for water supply.  A low cost, simple methodology for turbidity




monitoring should be developed.  Others are concerned with rapid bacterial




change during shipment of samples to the laboratory.  A report on bacterial




quality changes during sample aging will be available in 1980.




     Research is needed to develop a bacteriological sampling frequency




model that is more responsive to. types of treatment and distribution system




geometry.  Several sampling frequency models will be available by FY-80




for field testing.  The concept of a sample "presence-absence" test for




coliforms in potable water needs to be evaluated as an alternative to




quantitative coliform measurements.  Additional research is required to




investigate the analysis.of large sample volumes (500 ml, one liter or




greater) for coliforms and to evaluate the effect of statistical variation




in coliform counting procedures upon the MCL from 0 and 5.  An interim




report will be available within two years after funding.




     The standard plate count procedure will be evaluated as a complement




to the coliform test.  If and when chlorine or disinfectant residuals are




accepted as a substitute for some coliform determinations, field studies




will be necessary to evaluate this alternative.  Alternative indicators




(acidfast bacteria and yeast) of disinfection efficiency that parallel viral




resistance are being explored through extramural research.  A report on a







                                31

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feasibility study of these special indicators was completed in July 1978.




The regrowth potential of acid fast bacteria in water treatment, storage,




and distribution will be investigated in a field and laboratory study




scheduled for 1980 initiation.




     A better test for fecal contamination is necessary- for ground waters




that are not disinfected.  Other bacterial criteria, including fecal coli-




form, fecal streptococcus, and standard plate count, are being explored and




the rural water supply survey will be studied closely for clues.  The national




statistical assessment of rural water conditions will be completed in 1978




and analysis of data for further studies will be completed in 1979.




     Since excessive densities of non-coliform organisms in finished water




frequently interfere with coliforra detection by standard methods media,




research must be directed towards development of an improved, more selective




medium for total coliform analysis.  An interim report on medium development




is scheduled for 1981.  A quicker .response for bacterial results has been




a long-standing, high priority goal which is receiving continued research




attention.  Two in-house approaches to rapid detection methods will be com-




pleted in 1978.




     The quality assurance of microbiological methods is a continuing




research oriented program to support enforcement and monitoring requirements




of the Safe Drinking Water Act.  These activities include development of




the EPA microbiological methods manual, creation of a laboratory certification




guide, production of reference samples for evaluation by 1980, and preparation




of a collaborative testing protocol for coliform procedures to be available




by 1981.  An ongoing equivalency testing program for alternate procedures,




supplies and equipment will be carried out.
                                  32

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     A standardized method for the recovery of viruses from drinking water




has been included in the 14th edition of Standard Methods for the Examina-




tion of Water and Wastewater.  Significant limitations in the method are




recognized and studies, are being conducted in an effort to improve the




efficiency, sensitivity, and viral spectrum of the recovery procedures. . Interim




reports of ongoing efforts will be available in 1979.




     Major limitations of virus recovery procedures include the absence




of a cell culture system for isolating the viral agents of infectious hepatitis




and acute iirfectious, nonbacterial gastroenteritis.  Studies are being conducted




in an effort to develop such cell systems as well as other methods that will




determine the presence of these disease agents in clinical specimens or water




samples.  Interim reports of the results of these studies will be available




in 1979.




     Methods for the concentration, detection, and identification of Giardia




cysts in water are a high priority research activity that has been the basis




for a tentative standard method to be included in the 15th edition of Standard




Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.  A final report on the




evaluation of this procedure is due in 1979.  The suitability of yeasts as




as a surrogate indicator for Giardia is being investigated in studies with




drinking water samples and wild animal fecal samples.




     4.  Control of By-Products from Treatment




         Use of GAG filtration as a treatment technique for reduction




of organic chemicals may contribute to proliferation of microorganisms and




microbial by-products.  Deep bed carbon filters (6 ft.) are being monitored




for identification of microbial populations, toxins and for toxicological




evaluation.  In addition, filters are being dosed with anatoxins of known
                                  33

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toxic algal cultures to determine treatment efficacy.  This short-term




anticipatory research should indicate whether additional study is necessary.




Studies are also being done on household water treatment devices to identify




and characterize changes and persistance in microbial populations.




     5.  Treatment to Reduce Microbiological Contaminants




         The effects of virus aggregation on disinfection by chlorine and




factors which influence virus aggregation -are being investigated.  An EPA




final report on a project completed in December 1976 as well as several




subsequent publications on this subject in the technical literature are




available.  The final report on the current project will be available in




November 1979.  This report will also include the results of further study




on the chlorine resistance of polioviruses that have been isolated from drink-




ing water supply and found by others to possess a high degree of chlorine




resistance.  A final report on another study of differences in chlorine




resistance of enteroviruses will be available in August 1978.  Another project




on disinfection resistance of naturally occurring enteroviruses will be com-




pleted in October 1978.  Disinfection studies on infectious hepatitis A




virus are being initiated in July 1978, and an interim report will be avail-




able in FY-79.  Disinfection research on Yersinia enterocolitica amd gastro-




enteritis virus(es) also will be initiated in FY-79.




     Extramural research is being conducted to evaluate UV, ozone, and




chlorine as disinfectants for small water systems.  A final report on one




field study will be available in August 1978.  A field evaluation of




disinfection efficacy and microbiological quality at package treatment




plants using chlorine and chlorine dioxide will begin in 1979.  In 1978,




a study will be initiated to determine the efficacy of short term free
                                    34

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residual chlorine and chlorine dioxide will begin in 1979.  In 1978, a study




will be initiated to determine the efficacy of short term free residual




chlorine followed by chloramine for disinfection with reduced trihalomethane




formation.  A field study of alternative disinfectants and other unit processes




using source water of barely acceptable bacteriological quality also is in




progress to fully evaluate the extremes of viral and bacterial pollution that




may be encountered.  This project will be completed in December 1978.  An




interim report is available to guide ODW regarding the effectiveness of




chlorine dioxide and ozone as well as the usual unit processes.  In addition




to the alternative disinfectants currently being studied, others, including




iodine, bromine, silver, ionizing radiation, and natural U.V. radiation, are




being considered for further research but specific projects have not yet been




delineated.




     Success in development of Giardia excystation methodology has made it




possible to conduct cyst disinfection studies on this organism.  These studies




will be initiated in August 1978 and preliminary information will be available




in FY-79.  Pilot plant filtration studies on Giardia cysts should be completed




by December 1978.  Laboratory and field studies on cyst removal by other




water treatment processes were initiated in June 1978.




     Disinfection research related to the turbidity MCL involving chlorine,




chlorine dioxide, and ozone is in progress.  These studies are planned for




completion by December 1978, and an additional project involving chloramines




will be initiated in August 1978.  The distribution system residual aspects




and coliform test problems related to the turbidity MCL are being studied




through a series of field studies in various geographical areas at locations




where such problems are likely to occur.  Although the results of several of




these studies will be availabe in 1978, a realistic date for fulfilling program




requirements is December 1979.
                                  35

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Resource Distribution (See Table 3)




     In FY-78, about 12 percent of the total funds were assigned to




microbiological projects.  Somewhat over a half of the $1,930 was spent on




treatment and analytic improvement, but the health effects resources were




greatly augmented by funds from the water pollution contro-1 research programs




because of the similar needs.  A majority of the funds support extra-mural




projects.  The personnel assignments have been the same for several years




and will remain so in the near future.




     About 17 percent of the $1,930- is spent on long-range exploratory work,




essentially all in the health effects area.
                                  36

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Table 3.  RESEARCH RESOURCES




MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS

HERL
(Occurrence and
Health Effects)
MERL-DWRD
(Monitoring and
Treatment)
Total
FY-78
Extra-
In-House Mural Total
W-Y $K $K $K
15 600 150 750
12 360 820 1,180
27 960 970 1,930
FY-79
Extra-
In-House Mural Total
W-Y $K $K $K
12 480 420 900
12 . 360 820 1,180
24 840 1,340 2,080
FY-80
Extra-
In-House Mural Total
W-Y $K $K $K
13 520 380 900
12 360 820 1,180
25 880 1,200 2,080

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D.  Groundwater Research Plan


     Approximately 50 percent of  the population of the U.S. depends on


underground sources for their drinking water.  This constitutes a reliance on


ground water by 80 percent of all public water supply systems and over 95


percent of all rural domestic supplies.


     The need for protecting this valuable source of drinking water is clear.


However, for much of the country  only episodic information is available on the


extent of ground-water contamination.  Ground water contamination comes in many


forms and from many sources.  The severity of contamination from these sources varies


from source to source and from State to State.  There is at the present time only


limited infqnXpation on which to rank these sources of contamination in order


of importance, evaluate their relative adverse impact on human health, or in many


instances to define feasible pollution prevention and control techniques.


     It is against this background that EPA must publish sole source aquifer


guidelines, promulgate underground injection control regulation, describe


means for the States to assume primacy for the underground injection program, and


devise a ground-water protection  program.


     IN October 1977 a groundwater research plan was sent to the program

                                                                                     •
offices (including Office of Solid Waste Management), the Science Advisory Board,


and other groups.  The plan described results to be expected at different resource


levels.  At the present level with a program staff of 9 and approximately $1.5 million,


the research program would»joW»centrate on problem .identification and assessment;


methods applicable to a number of pollutant sources.  With the increase in program


staff of 5 per year over 3 years  for a total of 24 and an increase of $2.8 million


(the option chosen), the research program would develop scientific and


engineering guidelines on which to base source control criteria.
                                       38

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1.  PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

     In 1971 work was begun to assess the Nation's ground-water pollution

problems.  Since that time, five reports have been completed in which

ground-water availability, use, and background quality are described for

areas comprising 34 States.  In addition, the significant pollution problems

are discussed and placed in priority for each area and suggestions are

offered as to how these problems might be addressed.

     Some problems indigenous to one area were found to be nonexistent

in others, but several sources of ground-water contamination are dominant

at a high or moderate degree of severity in each area studied.   In all, 19

discrete sources of ground-water contamination have been identified.

2.  ASSESSMENT METHODS

     In order to provide background information, past as well as future,

milestones are listed.  The research plan, "in terms of milestones, for the

development of sampling and analysis methods follows:

                    Sampling and Analysis Methods

     Sampling Equipment for Groundwater                      April 1969
     Investigations

     Measuring Subsurface Spring Flows with                  Dec. 1969
     Radiotracers

     Ground-Water Reclamation by Selective                   Feb. 1970
     Pumping

     Ground-Water Monitoring to Verify Water                 Dec. 1972
     Quality Objectives

     Subsurface Biological Activity in                       Sept. 1973
     Relation to Ground-Water Pollution

     Investigation of a Technique to Identify                Dec. 1977
     Sources of Nitrate in Ground Water
                                       39

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     Handbook on Sampling Procedures for
     Ground Water

     Bio-Organic Indicators of Ground-Water
     Pollution

     The research plan, in terms of milestones,  to develop

transformation evaluation methods follows:

           Transport and Transformation Evaluation Methods

     Fate of DDT and Nitrate in Groundwater

     Movement of DDT and Nitrates During
     Groundwater Recharge

     Study of Reutilization of Wastewater
     Recharge with Infiltration Basins

     Nitrate in the Unsaturated Zone Under
     Agricultural Lands

     Groundwater Monitoring to Verify Water
     Quality Objectives

     Subsurface Biological Activity in Relation
     to Groundwater Pollution

     Organic Compounds Entering Groundwater
     from a Landfill

     Evaluation of Existing Groundwater
     Basin Management Models

     Procedure for Evaluation of Potential
     Groundwater Contamination by Hazardous Chemicals

     Develop and Test Barriers to Leachate Movement
     (MERL-Solid and Hazardous Wastes Rssssrch Div.)

     Migration and Attenuation of Leachate Pollutants
     Through Soils (MERL-Solid and Hazardous Wastes Res.
     Div.)

     Pressure Increases Resulting from Well Injection
  Oct. 1978


  April 1980


transport and
  Sept. 1968

  Oct. 1969


  March 1972


  April 1972


  Dec. 1972


  Sept. 1973


  Sept. 1974


  Dec. 1977


  April 1978


  Sept. 1978


  Sept. 1979



  Sept. 1979
                                40

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 SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING BASIS FOR RECOMMENDED SOURCE CONTROL CRITERIA
 WITH AN INCREASE IN PROGRAM STAFF OF 5 PER YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 24 AND AN
 INCREASE IN FUNDS OF $2.8 MILLION FOLLOWS:
             Recommended Source Control Criteria

 1.   Septic Tanks

 2.   Petroleum Exploration and Development

 3.   Landfills and Dumps

 4.   Agricultural Practices

 5.   Pit,  Ponds,  and Lagoons

 6.   Natural Leaching

 7.   Land  Application of Waste

 8.   Artificial Recharge

 9.   Water Well Construction

10.   Ground Water Development

11.   Waste Piles and Stock Piles'

12.   Mining - Western

13.   Mining - Eastern

14.   Accidental Spills

15.   Drainage Wells and Sumps

16.   Surface Water

17.   Highway Salting

18.   Disposal Wells

19.   Air Pollution
                                                             Oct. 1977

                                                             June 1982

                                                             Aug. 1983

                                                             Aug. 1983

                                                             Nov. 1980

                                                             No Criteria

                                                             Dec. 1979

                                                             Oct. 1979

                                                             Sept. 1979

                                                             No Criteria

                                                             No Criteria

                                                             Dec. 1978

                                                             No Criteria

                                                             July 1983

                                                             No Criteria

                                                             No Criteria

                                                             DOT

                                                             Dec. 1979
                                                             No Criteria

     It is believed that natural leaching is outside the range of reasonable

and economical control criteria.  Surface water and air pollution are

considered the responsibility of others in that they are diffuse sources

and would cease to be ground water problems if their sources of contamination

were controlled.  Eastern mining is considered to be beyond the anticipated
                            41

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resources of this program is that past research in coal mining suggests that




controls to prevent groundwater pollution are not feasible.  Criteria for




groundwater development, waste piles and stock piles, storage tanks and transmission




lines, and drainage wells and sumps would be postponed until after 1984.




     The anticipatory research portion of the groundwater budget ($500K




and 4 positions) planned for FY79 will concentrate on the area of microbiology,




soil science, sampling and inorganic geochemistry.




                           Summary of Resource Distribution




     The Table 4 shows the distribution of resources as to extra- and intra-mural




projects and principal areas in which ORD is structured to operate — health




effects (Health Effects Research Laboratory in Cincinnati), treatment (Municipal




Environmental Research Laboratory, Drinking Water Research Division, Cincinnati)




ground water management (Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory,




Ada, Oklahoma) and improvement of identification and measurement (Environmental




Research Laboratory - Athens and Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory -




Cincinnati).  Health effects will receive about 40 percent of the funds.




     Except for groundwater activities, the current plan is to carry out




FY79 and FY80 plans with approximately the same size staff that was available




in FY77 and 78.  There are also 18 positions assigned to drinking water research




laboratories (MERL and HERL) by ODW to perform technical assistance for the




Regions and Headquarters.  This arrangement plus the presence of a ODW Technical




Support Staff in Cincinnati makes it possible to conduct surveys or quick




process evaluations as needs may arise in the field.
                                        42

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     Approximately 28 percent ($1,944 K)  of the Health Effects resources




($6,888 K ) and 67 percent of the analytic activities are assigned to long-range




or exploratory research.  Virtually all the quality assurance and treatment




improvement projects are designed to respond directly to the immediate needs




of the Operating Program.  Thus by adding in $500K exploratory work from ground




water there is a total of about 16 percent of the $15.6M budget devoted to




long range studies.




     In addition to the drinking water research budget, $0.72M is allocated




from ORD for the development of a National quality assurance program.  The goal




of this effort is to ensure that all potable water monitoring data are sufficiently




accurate, precise, and reliable to meet Agency needs at reasonable cost.




To achieve this goal the quality assurance must:  standardize, validate, and




approve measurement methods for official use; develop and distribute reference




samples and quality control guidelines and procedures; conduct interlaboratory




performance tests; develop minimum acceptance criteria and procedures for




the on-site evaluation of laboratories; conduct on-site evaluations of




radiochemistry laboratories; and train and certify EPA Regional on-site evaluation




teams.  These activities and outputs directly support implementation of the




National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations.




     Late in the planning period for FY79, Congress allotted $8M for




wastewater renovation studies.  The Wastewater Research Division of MERL-Cincinnati




will manage this program so it is only footnoted in Table 4, which is designed




to cover the normal drinking water research activities.
                                           43

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  TABLE 4.   SUMMARY OF PAST AND PLANNED RESEARCH RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTING SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT FY78, 79, 80
FY-78
Laboratory
or Study Area W-Y
Health Effects (HERL-Cint.)
Organics 1.9
Inorganics and Asbestosl9
Microbiology 15
Alternate Disir.fect. 6
Re-Use 1
Public Health Initiative -
Sub-Total 58
Treatment & Systems Management
Organics 17
Particulates (lurb.,
Asbestos, etc.) 5
Inorganic 10
Distribution 10
Economic Analysis 6
Microbiology 12
Re-Use
Sub-Total 60
FY-79
In-House
$K

760
760
600
240
40

2,400
Extra-
Mural
$K

814
2,215
150
960
385

4,524
Total
$K

1,574
2,975
750
1,200
425
-
6,924
W-Y

15
15
12
5
1

48
Extra-
In-House Mural
$K $K

600
600
480
200
40

1,920

1551
1,750
420
1,290
385

5,396
Total
$K

2,151
2,350
900
1,490
425*
-
7,316
FY-80 (Estimate)
Extra-
In-House Mural
W-Y $K $K

14
14
13
6
1
6
54

560
560
520
240
40
240
2,160

1,590
1,790
380
1,250
385
4,686
10,081
Total
$K

2,150
2,350
900
1,490
425
4,926
12,241
(MERL-DWRD)
510

150
300
300
180
360

1,800
2,450

138
450
180
475
820

4,513
2,960

288
750
480
655
1,180

6,313
17

3
5
8
5
12

50
510

90
150
240
150
360

1,500
3,277**

249
165
285
355
820
_*
5,151
3,787**

339
315
525
505
1,180

6,651
17

1
5
8
4
12
0
47
510

30
150
240
120
360
. 0
1,410
3,232

200
620
205
200
820
1,000
6,277
3,742

230
770
445
320
1,180
1,000
7,687
Monitoring & Analytic Development
ERL-Athens 2
EMSL-Cinti. 0
Quality Assurance 8
Groundwater Quality
ERL-Ada 9
Headquarters-Management
Research Total 136
60
0
240

270

4,770
740
200
592

1,230

11,799
800
200
832

. 1,500

16,569
2
0
16

14
2
. 132
60
0
480

420
60
4,440
740
200
510

1,580
—
13,577
800
200
990

2,000
60
18,017
3
0
9

15
3
131
90
0
270

450
85
4,585
710
200
455

1,451

19,114
830
200
725

1,901
85
23,669
*In addition to this base of $425, $8 million has been allocated to Water Quality (Wastewater Research Division—MERL) i.
help various wastawater systems to construct and/or operate large pilot plants, so as to study the health effects
of renovated wast=water.
**§0.5 million additional funds were reprogrammed from ODW to supplement treatment studies for removal of trace
organics.  40ne additional million dollars was also reprogrammed within ORD to expand these studies.  These are noc shown
in sub-totals.   *                            '                                                "*     "*•
                                                                                                   March 1979

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          Membership for the Drinking Water Research Committee  1979
Mr. Gordon G. Robeck, Chairman
Coordinator, EPA Drinking Water Research
Cincinnati, Ohio

Mr. Victor Kimm
Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of Drinking Water
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Ed Hockman
Groundwater Protection Branch
Office of Drinking Water
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Tom Belk
Groundwater Protection Branch
Offfice of Drinking Water
Washington, D.C.

Dr. Joseph Cotruvo
Criteria and Standards Division
Office of Drinking Water
Washington, D.C.

Dr. Arnold Kuzmack
Office of Program Development
and Evaluation
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Patrick Tobin
Office of Drinking Water
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Donald Maddox
Regional Representative
Water Supply Branch, Reg. V
Chicago, Illinois

Mr. William Rosenberg
Office of Planning and Management
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Alvaro Yamhure
Office of Enforcement
Washington, D.C.
Dr. Thomas Murphy
Depty. Assist. Admn. for Air, Land
& Water Use ORD
Ms. Kathleen Conway
Health Effects Division, ORD, OHEE
Washington, D.C.

Mr..Thomas Stanley
Office of Monitoring & Technical
Support/ORD
Washington, D.C.

Mr. William Donaldson
Environmental Research Laboratory
Athens, Georgia
Mr. Jack Keeley
Chairman, Sub-committee for Groundwater
Robert S. Kerr Env. Research Lab
Ada, Oklahoma

Mr. William Galegar, Director
Robert S. Kerr Env. Research Lab.
Ada, Oklahoma
Ms. Jeanie Loving
Research Committee Coordinator
Office of Research Program Management/ORD
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Larry Gray, Alternate Chairman
Office of Air, Land & Water Use/ORD
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Leland McCabe
Health Effects Research Lab/ORD
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dr. Richard Bull
Health Effects Research Lab/ORD
Cincinnati, Ohio

Mr. Edwin E. Geldreich, Sub-Committee
Chairman for Microbiology
Drinking Water Research Division
Cincinnati, Ohio

Dr. James M. Symons, Sub-Committee
Chairman for Organic Contaminants
Drinking Water Research Division
Cincinnati, Ohio

-------
Mr. Thomas Padden
Waste Management Div/ORD
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Gunther Craun, Sub-Committee
Chairman for Inorganic Contaminants
Health Effects Research Lab.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr. Robert Booth
Environmental Monitoring & Support Lab.
Cincinnati, Ohio

-------
                                  TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
                           /Please read Instructions on tin: reverse before completing
1. REPORT NO.
 600/8-79-020
                             2.
             3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
                                                          5. REPORT DATE

                                                           Marrh 1Q7Q
 Drinking-Water  Research Strategy
                                                          6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
 Office of Research and  Development
 Office of Water and Waste Management
                                                          8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
 Office of Research and  Development
 Environmental Protection Agency
 Washington, D.C.  20460
                                                           10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
             11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
 Office of Research and  Development
 Environmental Protection  Agency
 Washington, D.C.  20460
             13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
               Planning 1978-1QKO	
             14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE

               EPA - 600/00
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
16. ABSTRACT
     This document outlines  a  broad strategy for research on drinking water,  representir
 the consensus of a Research Committee composed of representatives  from EPA's research,
 regulatory program, enforcement and Regional offices.  The Drinking  Water Research
 Committee is one of five  committees established as a pilot project to explore the plan-
 ning of research and development activities in a committee process.  The pilot project
 addressed the major regulatory  program areas:   drinking water;  industrial wastewater;
 pesticides; mobile source air pollution; and inhalable particulate pollution.  This
 document is a product of  the  pilot project.  The document outlines areas where research
 and development are needed  to help fulfill EPA's mission.  It describes activities whic
 are being or will be undertaken by the Office of Research and Development to meet those
 needs.   The program is presented in terms of organic contaminants, inorganic contamin-
 ants,  microbiologicals, and.groundwater protection.   Research such as  that on health
 effects or treatment technology is covered under these four categories.   The strategy
 will serve as a major basis for detailed planning accomplished  each  year as  part of
 EPA's  planning and budgeting  process.   To be responsive to emerging  Agency priorities
 and research results,  this  and  the other committee documents will be revised at
 least  annually.
17.
                               KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
                  DESCRIPTORS
                                             b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
                             COSATi Field/Group
       Drinking Water (DE)
Drinking Water
Research Planning
Drinking Water Health
Effects
Drinking Water Treatment
Technology
Ground Water Projection
                                                                           13B
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