United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
WH-550E
EPA/570/9-90-009
February 1991
oEPA Mobilization
Building Partnerships for
Safe Drinking Water
Local
Health
Officials
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Mobilizing to Meet the SDWA Challenge
Safe Drinking Water
Passage of the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments
ushered in a new era in the protection of America's drinking
water. In response to increasing threats to drinking water
quality from human activity, the Amendments require that EPA
establish new regulations to protect consumers from the long
term and short term health effects of a wide variety of microbio-
logical and chemical contaminants. Nearly everyone will be
affected in some way by the impacts of this important law.
Under EPA's new regulations the number of drinking water
standards is greatly increased. This means that all public water
systems wfll have to monitor for many more contaminants than
they now do. Many systems will also have to install additional
or improved treatment. Most systems using surface water will
have to filter and/or disinfect
This added protection means that the public will enjoy better
guarantees against contaminants that, if consumed over time,
can cause chronic illnesses such as cancer. In addition, EPA
studies estimate that compliance with the new filtration and
disinfection regulations will eliminate almost 200,000 cases of
diarrhea, vomiting and stomach upsets due to contaminated
water.
The Challenge
Fulfilling the mandate of the 1986 Amendments is not an easy
task. The health protection embodied in the new requirements
will only be realized if public water systems can and do fulfil
their new responsibilities. However, several important chal-
lenges must be met head on for this to happen:
Small systems need help. For all 200,000 public water systems
in America these requirements will mean increased monitor-
ing. Many systems will need to install or upgrade treatment in
order to comply with the new requirements. Many of these
systems serve less than 500 people and lack the financial,
managerial and technical capabilities to readily comply with
the new regulations.
State Programs need resources. States are responsible for .
ensuring that water systems comply with the National stan-
dards. Their program costs will more than double since the
requirements are more extensive and systems need more help.
Public Attitudes must change. Most people take drinking
water for granted. However, increased protection means
increased costs. The public needs to understand and accept
that their drinking water may cost more—in some cases,
substantially more.
How Will You Manage,
2000
...The New
Regulations?
1992
2000
Mobilization. Together We Can Do It!
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What is Mobilization
Small Systems Need Help
The Mobilization Strategy involves the use of action-oriented
partnerships among EPA, States and external groups and
organizations to meet the SDWA challenges. Special interest
organizations, whose constituencies are affected (directly or
indirectly) by expanding drinking water requirements
should play a major role in organizing supporting, inform-
ing, training and otherwise advising their membership on
drinking water requirements and issues.
Mobilization Initiatives
The purpose of Mobilization is to ensure that State Programs
and water suppliers have the resources they need to comply
with the new requirements. Through the formation of
action-oriented partnerships the drinking water community
can accomplish the following goals:
— Help Small Systems
— Build Strong State Programs
— Change Public Attitudes
EPA, States and external groups and organizations are
coordinating their efforts in six focused SDWA initiatives:
State Capacity Initiative—directed at state executive
and legislative decision makers to gain their support
for increased resources for state drinking water
programs.
• Institutional Support Initiative—focuses on systems
serving less than 3,300 people and the State institutions
which govern their operation. Its goal is to ensure that
small systems are viable and capable of consistent
compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Local Health Officials Initiative—s eeks the active
support of county health officials to ensure that all
citizens—even those with private, household wells—
enjoy the benefit of safe drinking water.
• Technology and Training Support Initiative—works
with the engineering and technical community to
ensure identification and use of appropriate low-cost
technology for small systems and development and
delivery of needed training.
• Non-Transient Non-Community Systems Initiative—
focuses on non-residential systems such as in schools
and hospitals and on developing awareness of the
regulations among these systems and facilitating
compliance.
• Public Education Initiative—targets the general public
and seeks to build an understanding of safe drinking
water as a valuable commodity—that is, one worth
paying for!
What Can Organizations Do?
Mobilize! In one way or another you have a role to
play. Get involved with your fellow employees or the
members of your professional and/or civic organiza-
tions. Brainstorm with your group about actions you
can take to promote safe drinking water in your
community—and then put those ideas into action!!
Here are some ideas:
• Conduct training on the new requirements;
• Argue for more State and local resources for
drinking water;
• Help small systems in your area plan for the
future; and
• Use your newsletter to get out information on
drlnldng water.
States Need Resources
-Need More Information?
Call the Hotline! The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has established a toll free hotline to provide
information about the Safe Drinking Water Act. Call
800-426-4791.
Contact EPA’s Initiative Leaders and Regional
Coordinators for more specific information about
Mobilization. Their addresses and numbers are listed
on the next page.
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For specific information on Mobilization, please contact the following:
Mobilization Initiative Leaders
Mobilization Manager
Mr. Peter Shanaghan
Office of Drinking Water
State Programs Division
USEPA—WH-550E
401 MStreet,SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 382-5813/Fl’S 382-5813
Stat. Capacity initiativi
Mr. James Bourne
Office of Drinking Water
State Programs Division
USEPA—WH-550E
401 MStreet,SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 382-5557/FTS 382-5557
Public Education Inltiatlv•
Ms. Charlene Shaw
Office of Drinking Water
USEPA—WH-550A
401 M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 382-2285/FTS 382-2285
Institutional Support Inltiativ.
Ms. Jane Ephremides
Program Development and
Evaluation Division
USEPA—WH-550B
401 M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 382-5513/Fl’S 382-5513
Local Health Officials Initiative
Ms. Elizabeth E. Hall
Office of Drinking Water
State Programs Division
USEPA—WH-550E
401 M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 382-5553/Fl’S 382-5553
Non-Transient Non-Community
Systems Inftlatlvs
Mr. Jeffrey Hass
Drinking Water/Ground Water
Protection Branch
USEPA—Region 3
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 597-9873/FrS 597-9873
Technology and Training Support Initiative
Small Systems Technology
Mr. David Schnare
Office of Drinking Water
Program Development and Evaluation
Division
USEPA—WH-550B
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 382-5541 /FFS 382-5541
Trazning Support
Ms. Judy Lebowich
Office of Drinking Water
USEPA—WH-550A
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 382-7595/Fl’S 382-7595
Regional Mobilization
Coordinators
Region I
Mr. Al Wong
Water Supply Branch
USEPA—Region I
JFK Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-3608/FFS 835-3608
Region 2
Mr. Rick Narang
Drinking Water/Ground Water Protection
USEPA—Region 2
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212) 264-5126/Fl’S 264-5126
Region 3
Ms. Jacqueline Pine
Drinking Water/Ground Water Protection
USEPA—Region 3
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 597-6531/Fl’S 597-6531
Region 4
Ms. Jane McConathy
Drinking Water Branch
USEPA—Region 4
345 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404) 347-2913/FFS 257-2913
Region 5
Ms. Christine Urban
Safe Drinking Water Branch
USEPA—Region 5
230 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 886-9546/FTS 886-9546
R.glon 6
Mr. Jose Rodriquez
Water Supply Branch
USEPA—Region 6
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75270
(214) 655-7155/Fl’S 255-7155
Region 7
Mr. Glen Yager
Drinking Water Branch
USEPA—Region 7
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7296/FTS 276-7296
Region 8
Ms. Patricia HenTy Denham
Drinking Water Branch
USEPA—Region 8
999 18th Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 293-1 420/F l’S 330-1420
Region 9
Ms. Michelle Moustakas
Drinking Water Branch
USEPA—Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-1850/Fl’S 484-1850
Region 10
Mr. Larry Worley
Drinking Water Branch
USEPA—Region 10
1200 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 442-1893/FTS 399-1893
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