United States                 Office of Water                 EPA-821-F-16-010
                 Environmental Protection          (4303T)                     September 2006
                 Agency


VvEPA Fact Sheet



      EPA Approves  New Test Procedures for Analyzing

      Pollutants in Wastewater and Sewage  Sludge


      EPA is adding procedures for sampling and analysis in wastewater and sewage sludge.  These
      revisions for analytical methods add choices to the set of EPA-approved methods for measuring
      pollutants. The newly-approved methods also reflect improvements in science and technology.

      Background

      EPA approves sampling procedures and analytical methods that industrial and municipal facilities use to
      determine pollutants of wastewater. Facilities use these methods to demonstrate compliance with permits
      under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

      EPA revises the list of approved methods periodically based on information from the Alternate Test
      Procedures approval process, from the public,  from Voluntary Consensus Standards Bodies (VCSB), and
      from vendors. Revising the list of approved methods by adding additional methods and clarifying
      compliance sampling procedures gives states and facilities greater flexibility to monitor water more
      effectively.

      In August 2005 and April 2006, EPA proposed  to approve a number of new analytical methods. The
      proposed changes included:
         •   adding EPA, vendor-developed methods, and VCSB  methods in wastewater and
         •   adding EPA methods in sewage sludge.

      Summary of Final Rule

      This rule amends the Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants (at 40 CFR
      Part 136) to:
         •   approve EPA methods and methods submitted by stakeholders for E. coli and enterococci for
             use in wastewater and
         •   approve EPA methods for fecal conforms and Salmonella in sewage sludge

      The addition of these methods offer a wider variety of options  to conduct compliance monitoring.

      Additional Information and Copies

      For further information concerning this final rule, please contact Robin K.  Oshiro at the U.S. EPA Office of
      Water, Engineering and Analysis Division (4303T), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington,  D.C.
      20460; (e-mail: Oshiro.Robin@epa.gov).

      The Federal Register notice is available at: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods .

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