United States Office of Water EPA 815-F-00-003
Environmental Protection (4607) April 2000
Agency
Technical Fact Sheet:
Proposed Ground Water Rule
EPA is proposing a rule which specifies the appropriate use of disinfection in ground water and
addresses other components of ground water systems to assure public health protection The
Ground Water Rule (GWR) establishes multiple barriers to protect against bacteria and viruses in
drinking water from ground water sources and will establish a targeted strategy to identify ground
water systems at high risk for fecal contamination The GWR is scheduled to be issued as a final
regulation in November of 2000
Background
Although ground water has historically been thought to be free of microbial contamination,
recent research indicates that some ground waters are a source of waterborne disease Most cases
of waterborne disease are characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, etc )
that are frequently self limiting in healthy individuals and rarely require medical treatment
However, these same symptoms are much more serious and can be fatal for persons in sensitive
subpopulations (such as, young children, elderly and persons with compromised immune
systems). In addition, research indicates that some viral pathogens found in ground water are
linked to long term health effects (for example, adult onset diabetes, myocarditis) EPA does not
believe all ground water systems are fecally contaminated, data indicate that only a small
percentage of ground water systems are contaminated. However, the severity of health impacts
and the number of people potentially exposed to microbial pathogens in ground water indicate
that a regulatory response is warranted
Presently, only surface water systems and systems using ground water under the direct influence
of surface water are required to disinfect their water supplies The 1996 amendments to the Safe
Drinking Water Act require EPA to develop regulations that require disinfection of ground water
systems "as necessary" to protect the public health (§1412(b)(8)) The proposed GWR will
specify when corrective action (including disinfection) is required to protect consumers who
receive water from ground water systems from bacteria and viruses
This rule applies to public ground water systems (systems that have at least 15 service
connections, or regularly serve at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year)
This rule also applies to any system that mixes surface and ground water if the ground water is
added directly to the distribution system and provided to consumers without treatment The
GWR does not apply to privately owned wells, however, EPA recommends private well owners
test for cohform bacteria once each year
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While developing the proposal, EPA consulted extensively with stakeholders EPA benefitted
from the stakeholders’ participation in four public meetings across the country, and their
comments are reflected in the proposed rule EPA also received valuable input from small entity
representatives as part of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA)
panel The GWR Small Business Advisory Par el met seven times from April to June, 1998
Many of the panel’s recommendations have been incorporated into the proposed rule
In February 1999, EPA posted an informal draft of the GWR preamble on the Internet.
Approximately 300 copies were also mailed to participants of public meetings or to those who
requested a copy EPA received valuable comments and stakeholder input from over 80
individuals representing States, trade associations, environmental interest groups, as well as
individual stakeholders
EPA is taking comment on the Proposed Rule
EPA will take public comment on the proposed Ground Water Rule for 60 days. For more
information, the general public can call the Safe Dnnking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791. A
fact sheet, the proposal and additional information are also available at
httpl/www.epa gov/safewater/gwr html
What Requirements are Proposed in the GWR?
• System sanitary surveys conducted by the State and identification of significant
deficiencies;
• Hydrogeologic sensitivity assessments for undisinfected systems;
• Source water microbial monitoring by systems that do not disinfect and draw from
hydrogeologically sensitive aquifers or have detected fecal indicators within the system’s
distribution system,
• Corrective action by any system with significant deficiencies or positive microbial
samples indicating fecal contamination; and
• Compliance monitoring for systems which disinfect to ensure that they reliably achieve 4-
log (99.99 percent) inactivation or removal of viruses
The proposed requirements are discussed in greater detail below
Sanitary Surveys
Applies to All ground water systems
Frequency Every 3 years for community water systems, 5 years for non-community water
systems, consistent with the 1998 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment
Rule (Community water systems serve the same populations year round, e g,
houses and apartment buildings Non-community water systems do not serve the
same people year round, e g , schools, factories, office buildings, hospitals, gas
station and campgrounds)
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Key components
I State must perform each system’s sanitary survey and address the 8 elements from
the joint EPA and Association of State Drinking Water Administrators guidance
2. State must have authority to enforce corrective action requirements
3 State must provide a list of significant deficiencies (e g, those that require
corrective action) to the system within 30 days of identification of the
deficiencies
Hydrogeologic Sensitivity Assessment
Applies to All ground water systems which do not provide 4-log (99 99%) virus
inactivationJremoval
Frequency. One-time assessment of sensitivity (within 6 years of the final rule’s date of
publication for community water systems and 8 years for non-community water
systems) Sensitive systems must monitor monthly (see below)
Key components.
1 State must conduct a one-time assessment of all systems that do not provide 4-log
virus inactivation]removal to identify those systems located in sensitive aquifers.
2. EPA considers karst, gravel, or fractured bedrock aquifers to be “sensitive” to
microbial contamination States may waive source water monitoring for sensitive
systems if there is a hydrogeologic barrier to fecal contamination.
Source Water Monitoring
Applies to Ground water systems that are sensitive or have contamination in their
distribution system (“triggered monitoring”) and do not treat to 4-log removal or
inactivation of viruses
Frequency Monthly for sensitive systems; once for triggered monitoring
Key Components
I. Routine Monitoring For systems determined by the State to be hydrogeologically
sensitive, the system must conduct monthly source water monitoring for fecal
indicators Sampling frequency may be reduced after twelve negative samples.
2 Triggered Monitoring . If a total coliform-positive sample is found in the
distribution system, then the system must collect one source water sample and
monitor for a fecal indicator.
Corrective Actions
Applies to Ground water systems that have a significant deficiency or have detected a fecal
indicator in their source water
Frequency Correct within 90 days or longer with a State-approved schedule
Key components
Significant Deficiency or Source Water Contamination If a ground water system
is notified of significant deficiencies by the State, or notified of a source water
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sample positive, within 90 days it must correct the contamination problem by
eliminating the contamination source, correct the significant deficiencies, provide
an alternative source water or install a treatment process which reliably achieves
4-log removal or inactivation of viruses A system may take longer than 90 days
for corrective action with a State-approved plan Systems must notify the State of
completion of the corrective action or the State must confirm correction within 30
days after the 90 day penod or scheduled correction date
2 Treatment . Systems providing treatment must monitor treatment to ensure at least
4-log virus inactivation andlor removal.
Compliance Monitoring
Applies to: Applies to all ground water systems that notify States they disinfect in order to
avoid source water monitoring, and to systems which disinfect as a corrective
action
Frequency: Systems serving less than 3,300 must monitor disinfection treatment once daily,
while systems serving 3,300 or more people must monitor their disinfection
treatment continuously
Key components.
1 If monitoring shows the disinfection concentration to be below the required level,
the system must restore the disinfection concentration within 4 hours or notify the
State.
For general information please contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 The
Safe Drinking Water Hotline is open Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, from
9 00 am to 5 30 PM Eastern Time For technical inquires, contact Eric Bumeson, Office of
Ground Water and Drinking Water (MC 4607), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20460; telephone (202) 260-1445.
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