United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4606)
EPA EPA/81 6-N-00-002A
September 2000
&EPA
Drinking Water
Academy Bulletin
DWA
Public Notification Handbook
Published by EPA and ASDWA
In This Issue . . .
EPA Proposes New
Standard for Arsenic
DWA Prepares New
Courses for Fall 2000
EPA Supplements In-Service
Training of NRWA
Interactive Web-based
Training Being Developed
DWA Offers Tailored
Training Courses
Status of State SWAPs
DWA Contacts
Training Course Schedule
DWA Training Course in
Spanish Is a Success
Printed on Recycled Paper
EPA and the Association of State Drinking
Water Administrators (ASDWA) co-
developed the Public Notification
Handbook to assist public water system owners
and operators in preparing and distributing
effective public notices.
The Handbook is a useful tool to assist opera-
tors in complying with EPA's recently revised
Public Notification (PN) Rule (65 FR 25981, May
4, 2000), which requires public water systems to
notify their consumers when they violate EPA or
State drinking water standards. The Handbook,
along with other information about the PN rule, is
available on the Web at www.epa.gov/safewater/
pn.html or by contacting the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or hotline-sdwa@epa.
gov. EPA will conduct training on the PN rule in
August and September (see the Training Course
Schedule on pages 3 and 4).
The "how to" handbook, developed in a
question-and-answer format, gives step-by-step
instructions for preparing and distributing public
notices. The centerpiece of the Handbook is a set
of templates that provide examples of effective
public notices, along with instructions specific to
the type of violation.
Suggestions on how operators can better
interact with the news media to prevent public
overreaction to public notices will help operators
improve their effectiveness. The Handbook also
provides guidance on meeting the multilingual
notification requirements of the PN rule and
includes full Spanish translations of two tem-
plates and an appendix containing useful phrases
in a variety of languages.
The Handbook is designed to meet the needs of
public water systems of all sizesit is filled with
suggestions and instructions targeted to very
small community systems. In addition, an entire
chapter is devoted to the requirements for and
needs of non-community systems.
EPA intends to update the Handbook and
provide additional public notice templates
periodically as new and revised drinking water
standards that have a public notification compo-
nent are published. (^
EPA Makes Available the
Troubleshooting Guide
For Small Ground Water
Systems With
Hypochlorina tion
Te Troubleshooting Guide is a tool to help
operators of small ground water systems
that use hypochlorination identify and
resolve operational problems. The Guide was
developed by the University of Florida's Train-
ing, Research and Education for Environmental
Occupations Center under a grant from EPA.
The Guide follows a systematic approach to
identifying the components of a water system and
suggesting steps to resolve problems. Each of the
main physical components of a system is ex-
plained in a chapter: wells, pumps, disinfection,
hydropneumatic tanks, distribution systems, cross
connections, and sampling and monitoring. Each
chapter contains a troubleshooting table that lists
problems, possible causes of each problem, and
solutions for each possible cause.
The Guide comes on a CD-ROM that can be
obtained free from the EPA Drinking Water
Continued on page 2
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©
EPA Proposes New Arsenic Standard
EPA is asking for
comments on the
proposed arsenic
standard and
alternatives by
September 20,2000
On June 22, 2000, EPA proposed a new
primary drinking water standard for
arsenic (see www.epa.gov/safewater/ars/
proposalfs.html). EPA proposes to lower the
drinking water standard or MCL for arsenic from
50 ng/L to 5 ng/L (3 (ig/L is technically feasible).
At that level, the rule would provide additional
protection for 22 million Americans from cancer,
cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, anemia, and
other health problems.
The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Amendments require EPA to determine whether
the health risk reduction benefits derived from the
proposed maximum contaminant level (MCL)
justify the cost. The arsenic rule is the first time
EPA has proposed to set a standard that is higher
than what is technically feasible because EPA
determined that the costs of a more stringent
standard would not justify the benefits.
The rule would require community water
systems serving more than 10,000 people to be in
compliance 3 years after promulgation of the final
rule. (SDWA requires EPA to promulgate a final
arsenic rule by January 1, 2001.) Community
water systems serving 25 to 10,000 people would
be required to be in compliance 5 years after
promulgation of the final rule. Non-transient,
non-community water systems would be required
to monitor for arsenic and report exceedances of
the MCL within 3 years after promulgation of the
final rule. Before the effective date, all commu-
nity water systems will begin disclosing health
information and arsenic concentrations in their
annual Consumer Confidence Reports for water
that exceeds the new standard.
EPA is requesting comments on the proposed
rule and alternative standards of 3 ng/L, lO^g/L,
and 20 ng/L. Comments must be received by
September 20, 2000. Written comments may be
sent to the W-99-16 Arsenic Comments Clerk,
Water Docket (MC 4101), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-3027
between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time,
Trouble-shooting Guide (Continued from Page !)
Resource Center in October (ask for EPA
publication number EPA 816-C-00-002). You can
request the Guide by e-mail (center.water-
resource@epa.gov). (Be sure to include your
address when contacting the Resource Center,
telephone (202)260-7786, or fax (202) 260-
0386.) The Guide is an Adobe Acrobat file on
CD-ROM. You can also download the Guide
from the DWA Web site at www.epa. gov/
safewater/dwa/electronic/gwtsg.pdf. (^
Monday through Friday. Comments may also be
submitted electronically to owdocket@.epa.gov.
EPA held a 1-day stakeholders' meeting on
Wednesday, August 9, 2000, in Reno, NV. For
more information, visit the OGWDW arsenic
Web page at http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/ars/
arsenic, html. (^
DWA Readies New
Courses for Fall 2000
Te Drinking Water Academy is preparing
three new courses that will be ready for
delivery in late fall. These courses were
identified by the DWA work group as priorities
during a meeting in September 1999. Work on the
courses has been proceeding since then.
From Risk to Rule: How EPA Develops
Risk-Based Drinking Water Regulations
provides an understanding of the basis for
EPA's primary drinking water regulations.
It is intended for EPA Regional and State
staff who implement the rules. The course
explains the historical context of the public
health protection basis for regulating
drinking water; presents an overview of the
risk reduction objectives of the Safe
Drinking Water Act; explains how EPA
considers risk and integrates costs and
benefits in developing regulatory alterna-
tives; and explains the principles of risk
communication.
Public Water System Supervision (PWSS)
State Oversight is a course for EPA and
State staff who oversee or implement State
drinking water primacy programs. The
course provides an understanding of the
grants management aspects of State
oversight and discusses activities that must
be carried out by the EPA Region, includ-
ing regulatory interpretation, technical
assistance, dealing with the public, and
State program reviews.
Introduction to Underground Injection
Control (UIC) Permitting is for UIC permit
writers. It explains the technical aspects of
permit writing and covers topics such as site
evaluation, monitoring and mechanical
integrity testing, injection dynamics, well
construction, financial assurance, and
public participation.
These courses will be piloted in the fall and will
be ready for delivery to EPA Regional and State
audiences in the winter. (^
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©
Training Course Schedule
Course Title Audience
Date Scheduled Location
Contact
Sanitary Survey
Training
Alaska State drinking water Sept. 26-29, 2000 Sitka, AK
staff Oct. 17-20,2000 Anchorage, AK
Lee Michalsky
State of Alaska
(907) 747-7755
Introduction to SDWA,
PWSS, SWP
Louisiana State staff
Sept. 18-20, 2000 New Orleans, LA
Bill Davis
EPA Region 6
(214) 665-7536
davis.williamh@epa.gov
Introduction to SDWA,
PWSS, and Source
Water Protection,
SDWA Compliance for
Small Systems
Minnesota State drinking
water staff
Sept. 26-28, 2000 Minneapolis, MN
Stew Thornley
MN Dept. of Health
(651) 215-0771
stew.thornley@health.state.mn.us
Source Water
Protection Conference
Region 1 State and EPA
staff
Sept. 28, 2000
China Lake, ME
Jackie LeClair
EPA Region 1
(617) 918-1549
leclair.jackie@epa.gov
SETS Training
Federal and State staff
whose responsibilities
include retrieving enforce-
ment-sensitive data or
accessing the SETS data
from SDWIS/FED (must
have completed beginner's
and intermediate courses)
Sept. 2000*
Washington, DC
Michelle Stoner
EPA HO
(202) 260-2798
stoner.michelle@epa.gov
UIC Inspector Training
All State and Federal
drinking water staff
Oct. 2-6, 2000
West Palm Beach,
FL
Steve Platt
EPA Region 3
(215) 814-5464
platt.steve@epa.gov
Capacity Development
and Sanitary Surveys
State drinking water staff Oct. 5, 2000
Portland, OR
James Bourne
EPA HO
(202) 260-5557
bourne.james@epa.gov
Sanitary Survey
Training
State drinking water staff Oct. 17-20, 2000
November 2000**
Apr. 23-27, 2001
Little Rock, AR
Louisiana
Albuquerque, NM
Bill Davis
EPA Region 6
(214) 665-7536
davis.williamh@epa.gov
Inroduction to the
PWSS Program and
Sanitary Survey
Training
Connecticut drinking water
staff and Connecticut
health department staff
Oct. 24-26, 2000 Hartford, CT
Mark Sceery
EPA Region 1
(617) 918-1559
sceery.mark@epa.gov
Multimedia Mitigation State and EPA staff:
Workshop (Radon Regions 5, 6, and 7
Rule)
Regions 1 and 2
Regions 8, 9, and 10
Regions 3 and 4
Oct. 26 & 27, 2000 Milwaukee, Wl
Nov. 2 & 3, 2000 New Haven, CT
Nov. 8 & 9, 2000 Las Vegas, NV
Nov. 14 & 15, 2000 Washington, DC
Nicole Foley
EPA HO
(202) 260-0875
foley.nicole@epa.gov
Notes:
*Final dates and locations will be posted on the DWA Web site as soon as they are available (www.epa.gov/safewater/dwa/calendar.html)
The following courses may be presented as requested: Comprehensive Performance Evaluations (Introduction); Comprehensive Performance
Evaluations (Progressive); Sanitary Survey Training; Consumer Confidence Rule; Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. See the course
catalog on the DWA Web site for more information (www.epa.gov/safewater/dwa/course.html).
Continued on page 4.
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EPA Supports NRWA In-Service Training
Te National Rural Water Association
(NRWA) is a national organization with
48 State affiliates whose primary mission
is to work with rural and small drinking water
system personnel to improve drinking water
facility operations. NRWA State affiliates work
with State drinking water programs to address
concerns and problems at small systems that
States have indicated are most in need of assis-
tance.
NRWA annually provides in-service training
for its nationwide staff. This year, from July 15-
19, EPA sent seven regulatory and implementa-
tion managers to train NRWA's field representa-
tives. EPA provided experts on the following
proposed and final rules:
Radon
Arsenic
Radionuclides
Ground Water
Public Notification
Lead and Copper
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection
Byproducts
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment.
EPA also conducted a training session on capac-
ity development for small systems.
The NRWA representatives work in all 48
contiguous States. NRWA has circuit riders who
travel to various sites; ground water technicians
who assist in developing wellhead protection
programs; and training specialists who conduct
and facilitate training. The training specialists will
develop State-specific training based on EPA's
presentations. Other NRWA staff will use their
increased knowledge of the Federal regulations to
better assist the personnel at rural and small water
systems. (^
Interactive Web-Based
Training Under
Development
Development of the DWA's first interactive
Web-based training course is well under way. The
first module to go on the Web will be Introduc-
tion to EPA 's Drinking Water Source Protection
Programs.
The training will feature animation, quizzes, a
built-in glossary, links to refer-
ence materials, and a ^^gm
feedback mecha-
nism. A test
version will be
ready in Novem-
ber, and DWA
expects the final
version will go
online in the
fall. 1*
Training Course Schedule (Continued)
Course Title Audience Date Scheduled Location
Contact
Introduction to the
Safe Drinking Water
Act
Puerto Rico drinking water
staff
Dec. 2000**
San Juan, PR
Norma Ortega
EPA Region 2
(212) 637-4234
ortega.norma@epa.gov
Sanitary Survey
Troubleshooter's
Training
EPA Region 3 Federal and
State drinking water staff
TBD*
Region 3*
Rick Rogers
EPA Region 3
(215) 814-5711
rogers.rick@epa.gov
Notes:
*Final dates and locations will be posted on the DWA Web site as soon as they are available (www.epa.gov/safewater/dwa/calendar.html)
**Tentatively scheduled
The following courses may be presented as requested: Comprehensive Performance Evaluations (Introduction); Comprehensive Performance
Evaluations (Progressive); Sanitary Survey Training; Consumer Confidence Rule; Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. See the course
catalog on the DWA Web site for more information (www.epa.gov/safewater/dwa/course.html).
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The Drinking Water Academy Tailors Training
Courses to Meet the Needs of Different Audiences
To often training courses are presented
straight off-the-shelf. They're generic
courses that fit everyone somewhat, but
don't fit anyone perfectly. The DWA is trying to
address this dilemma by tailoring training courses
to better fit the needs of the individual audience.
Although this can't be done in every case, several
recent efforts have been very well received.
The DWA presented a 3-day training course in
Idaho that addressed three of the audience's
particular needs:
The training combined the Introduction to
the Public Water System Supervision
Program and sanitary survey training into a
three-day course.
The PWSS segment focused particular
attention on two of the "older" rules (total
coliform and surface water treatment) in
order to provide a good foundation for new
staff.
The sanitary survey segment focused on
small ground water systems, since those are
prevalent in Idaho.
The DWA also presented sanitary survey
training in Alaska, which focused on State-
specific issues and integrated the State's sanitary
survey forms into the course. The training will be
presented in three more locations throughout the
State during the summer.
The DWA has several more tailored
training deliveries planned. Sanitary
survey training for local health officials
in Connecticut will be
tailored to give more
emphasis to enforce-
ment issues. Training
scheduled for Minnesota
will combine two
modules, Introduction to
SDWA and Introduction
to PWSS, into a 1-day
session.
When thinking about
presenting training in
your EPA Region or
State, contact a DWA
representative listed below to see
how we can help address your
training needs. (^
Drinking Water Academy
Contact Location
MaryJo Feuerbach
Norma Ortega
Rick Rogers
Janine Morris
Bill Spaulding
Bill Davis
Stephanie Lindberg
Dan Jackson
Barry Pollock
Mike Cox
Mark Anderson
Carole Limaye
Stew Thornley
Murlene Lash
Mario Salazar
James Bourne
EPA Region 1
EPA Region 2
EPA Region 3
EPA Region 4
EPA Region 5
EPA Region 6
EPA Region 7
EPA Region 8
EPA Region 9
EPA Region 10
Virginia
Texas
Minnesota
EPA HO.
EPA HO
EPA HO
Contacts
Telephone
(617) 918-1578
(212) 637-4234
(215) 814-5711
(404) 562-9480
(312) 886-9262
(214) 665-7536
(913) 551-7423
(303) 312-6155
(415) 744-1854
(206) 553-1893
(804) 786-5569
(512) 239-6120
(651) 215-0771
(202) 260-7197
(202) 260-2363
(202) 260-5557
E-mail
feuerbach.maryjo@epa.gov
ortega.norma@epa.gov
rogers.rick@epa.gov
morris.janine@epa.gov
spaulding.william@epa.gov
davis.williamh@epa.gov
lindberg.stephanie@epa.gov
jackson.dan@epa.gov
pollock.barry@epa.gov
cox.mike@epa.gov
manderson@vdh. state. va. us
climaye@tnrcc. state. tx. us
stew. thornley@health. state. mn. us
lash.murlene@epa.gov
salazar.mario@epa.gov
bourne.james@epa.gov
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©
Status of State Source Water Assessment Programs
Te Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Amendments of 1996 developed a new
tool for the protection of drinking water:
the Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP).
Through this program, State governments assess
the threats to each public drinking water supply
so that the communities and public water systems
can work together to decide how best to protect
drinking water sources.
Congress requested that States submit to EPA
source water assessment programs that outline
their approaches to completing assessments of all
their public drinking water sources. State source
water assessments include delineating the source
water protection area; inventorying the potential
contaminant sources in the area; determining the
susceptibility of the public water supply to
contamination; and releasing the results of the
assessments to the public. As of August 3, 2000,
EPA had approved the approaches of 48 States,
Washington, D. C., and Puerto Rico. The
approaches of Kansas and Wyoming remain
under EPA review.
Most States expect to complete all of their
assessments by May 2003, using up to 10 percent
of their 1997 Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund allocation. As follow-up, States may spend
up to 10 percent of their Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund grants to administer or provide
technical assistance through source water protec-
tion programs.
For further information on the national drinking
water source protection program, please contact
the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-
4791 or send an e-mail to hotline-sdwa@epa.
gov. For information on individual State SWAPs,
please visit http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/source/
contacts.html for a list of State source water
protection contacts and Web pages. (^
DWA Spanish Language Training A Success
Under the auspices of EPA Region 2 and the
Drinking Water Academy, the Under-
ground Injection
Control (UIC) Inspectors
Training was held in San Juan,
Puerto Rico, on August 9-11,
2000. The training was taught
entirely in Spanish.
The 100 participants
represented Puerto Rico's
Environmental Quality Board,
Department of Natural
Resources, Department of
Health, and other agencies. In addition, represen-
tatives from several municipalities throughout the
island, 3 employees of the U.S. Navy, and 3 EPA
staff people attended.
The Inspectors training was presented by a
team of professors from two universities on the
island: the University of Puerto
i Rico and the Interamerican
University in San German.
Of the 100 people registered
for the course, 91 completed
the necessary requirements and
were certified as UIC Inspec-
tors. The participants were
very enthusiastic about this
training, which some had to
travel long distances to attend.
The students expressed a strong interest in
participating in future courses in Spanish offered
by the Academy. (^
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