&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
The Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3)
Fact Sheet for Assessment Monitoring of List 1 Contaminants
Overview of the Rule
*> Title: Revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for Public Water Systems; 77 FR 26072, May 2,2012.
*> Purpose: To collect occurrence data for contaminants suspected to be present in drinking water but that do not have health-based
standards set under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Assessment Monitoring targets contaminants that are analyzed with methods
that utilize existing and widely used technology. The UCMR program is the primary source of drinking water contaminant occurrence data
used by EPA in regulatory determinations.
*> Description: UCMR 3 includes Assessment Monitoring for 21 chemical contaminants using six EPA-approved analytical methods and four
equivalent consensus methods. Public water systems (PWSs) subject to Assessment Monitoring will sample within a 12-month period
during 2013 - 2015.
*> Utilities Affected: Community water systems (CWSs) and non-transient non-community water systems (NTNCWSs) with more than 10,000
retail customers and a representative sample of 800 systems serving 10,000 or fewer retail customers are required to conduct Assessment
Monitoring.
UCMR 3 List 1 Contaminants
Contaminant / CASRIM1 ,MR.K
Hi/I-
Use or Environmental Source3 Health Effects3
Volatile Organic Compounds: EPA Method 524.3
1,2,3-trichloropropane
96-18-4
1,3-butadiene
106-99-0
chloromethane (methyl
chloride)
74-87-3
1,1-dichloroethane
75-34-3
bromomethane
74-83-9
chlorodifluoromethane
(HCFC-22)
75-45-6
0.03
0.1
0.2
0.03
0.2
0.08
Halogenated alkane; used as an ingredient in
paint, varnish remover, solvents and
degreasing agents
Alkene; used in rubber manufacturing and
occurs as a gas
Halogenated alkane; used as foaming agent,
in production of other substances, and
by-product that can form when chlorine
used to disinfect drinking water
Halogenated alkane; used as a solvent
Halogenated alkane; occurs as a gas, and
used as a fumigant on soil before planting,
on crops after harvest, on vehicles and
buildings, and for other specialized purposes
Chlorofluorocarbon; occurs as a gas, and
used as a refrigerant, as a low-temperature
solvent, and in fluorocarbon resins,
especially tetrafluoroethylene polymers
Reference Dose (RfD):
- 0.006 mg/kg/day (Integrated Risk
Information System [IRIS]) associated with
changes in blood chemistry and reduction in
red blood cell mass in rats
-0.004 mg/kg/day (IRIS) associated with
increased liver weight in male rats
Slope Factor: 30 (mg/kg/day)"1 (IRIS)
EPA Cancer Class: B2 - probable human
carcinogen (sufficient evidence from animal
studies and inadequate/no epidemiologic
studies)
RfD: 0.004 mg/kg/day associated with mild
neurological effects in humans (EPA Health
Advisory [HA])
EPA Cancer Class: C - possible human
carcinogen
RfD: 0.0014 mg/kg/day (IRIS) associated with
lesions in the forestomach
EPA Cancer Class: D - not classifiable as to
human carcinogenicity
Associated with degenerative effects on the
brain and coverings; changes in the blood cell
count (unspecified); and nutritional and
metabolic effects, such as weight loss or
decreased weight gain
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Contaminant / CASRIM1 , ... Use or Environmental Source3 Health Effects3
(Hg/L)
bromochloromethane Used as a fire-extinguishing fluid, an RfD: 0.01 mg/kg/day associated with increased
(Halon 1011) 0.06 explosive suppressant, and as a solvent in liver-to-body weight ratio and other metabolic
74-97-5 the manufacturing of pesticides effects (EPA HA)
Synthetic Organic Compound: EPA Method 522
1,4-dioxane
123-91-1
0.07
Cyclic aliphatic ether; used as a solvent or
solvent stabilizer in manufacture and
processing of paper, cotton, textile products,
automotive coolant, cosmetics and
shampoos
RfD: 0.03 mg/kg/day associated with liver and
kidney toxicity (IRIS)
EPA 10"4 Lifetime Cancer Risk: 0.3 mg/L
Slope Factor:
-0.011 (mg/kg/day)"1 (IRIS)
-0.19 (mg/kg/day)"1 (IRIS Draft; 74 FR 21361)
EPA Cancer Class: B2 - probable human
carcinogen (sufficient evidence from animal
studies and inadequate/no epidemiologic
studies)
Metals: EPA Method 200.8; SM 3125; ASTM D5763-104
.. Naturally-occurring elemental metal; used Associated with altered kidney function
0.2 as vanadium pentoxide which is a chemical indicated by increased blood urea and mild
7440-62-2
intermediate and a catalyst tissue changes
molybdenum
7439-98-7
cobalt
7440-48-4
strontium
7440-24-6
chromium5
CASRN n/a
1
1
0.3
0.2
Naturally-occurring element found in ores
and present in plants, animals and bacteria;
commonly used form molybdenum trioxide
used as a chemical reagent
Naturally-occurring element found in the
earth's crust and at low concentrations in
seawater, and in some surface and ground
water; cobaltous chloride was formerly used
in medicine and as a germicide
Naturally-occurring element; historically,
commercial use of strontium has been in the
faceplate glass of cathode-ray tube
televisions to block x-ray emissions
See chromium-6 for use or source
information; though the amount measured
when analyzing for "total chromium" is the
sum of chromium in all of its valence states,
the MCL for EPA's current total chromium
regulation was determined based upon the
health effects of chromium-6
RfD: 0.005 mg/kg/day (IRIS) associated with
increased uric acid levels
EPA Cancer Class: D - not classifiable as to
human carcinogenicity
Associated with effects on blood (increased
hemoglobin, polycythemia) and effects on lung
function
RfD: 0.6 mg/kg/day associated with rachitic
bone (rickets) (IRIS)
EPA Cancer Class: D - not classifiable as to
human carcinogenicity
See chromium-6 for health effects information
Chromium-6: EPA Method 218.7
chromium-66
18540-29-9
0.03
Naturally-occurring element; used in making
steel and other alloys; chromium-3 or -6
forms are used for chrome plating, dyes and
pigments, leather tanning, and wood
preservation
RfD:
- 0.005 mg/kg/day (IRIS, 1998) (basis for MCL)
- 0.003 mg/kg/day (IRIS, 2005) (basis for HRL)
- Draft RfD: 0.0009 mg/kg/day associated with
intestinal lesions (IRIS, Draft 75 FR 60454)
Draft Slope Factor: 0.5 (mg/kg/day)"1 (IRIS,
Draft 75 FR 60454)
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Contaminant /CASRN1 . . .
(Hg/L)
Use or Environmental Source3
Health Effects3
Oxyhalide Anion: EPA Method 300.1; SM 4110D; ASTM D658-08
chlorate
14866-68-3
20
Agricultural defoliant or desiccant;
disinfection byproduct; and used in
production of chlorine dioxide
RfD: 0.03 mg/kg/day associated with enlarged
thyroid and mineralization (Office of Pesticide
Programs)
Perfluorinated Compounds: EPA Method 537
perfluorooctanesulfonic
acid (PFOS)
1763-23-1
perfluorooctanoic acid
(PFOA)
335-67-1
0.04
0.02
Surfactant or emulsifier; used in fire-fighting
foam, circuit board etching acids, alkaline
cleaners, floor polish, and as a pesticide
active ingredient for insect bait traps; U.S.
manufacture of PFOS phased out in 2002;
however, PFOS still generated incidentally
Perfluorinated aliphatic carboxylic acid; used
for its emulsifier and surfactant properties in
or as fluoropolymers (such as Teflon),
fire-fighting foams, cleaners, cosmetics,
greases and lubricants, paints, polishes,
adhesives and photographic films
NOAEL: 0.03 mg/kg/day associated with
decreased body weights, increased liver
weights, lowered total cholesterol, lowered
triiodothyronine (T3) concentration, and
lowered estradiol levels (EPA Provisional HA)
Associated with body weight reduction, and
increased liver, kidney and brain weight
relative to body weight
perfluorononanoic acid Manmade chemical; used in products to
(PFNA) 0.02 make them stain, grease, heat and water Associated with liver effects
375-95-1 resistant
perfluorohexanesulfonic
acid (PFHxS)
355-46-4
perfluoroheptanoic acid
(PFHpA)
375-85-9
perfluorobutanesulfonic
acid (PFBS)
375-73-5
0.03
0.01
0.09
Manmade chemical; used in products to
make them stain, grease, heat and water
resistant
Manmade chemical; used in products to
make them stain, grease, heat and water
resistant
Manmade chemical; used in products to
make them stain, grease, heat and water
resistant
Associated with immune and lymphatic
system, neurological, reproductive and
developmental effects
Contaminant is similar to other perfluorinated
compounds
Associated with decreased blood proteins and
1. CASRN - Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number
2. MRL-Minimum Reporting Level
3. "Use or Environmental Source" and "Health Effects" further documented in UCMR 3 Contaminants - Information Compendium. EPA 81B-B-11-001. January 2012
4. SM -Standard Methods; ASTM -ASTM International
5. Monitoring for total chromium, in conjunction with UCMR3 Assessment Monitoring, is required under the authority provided insertion 144B(a)(l)(A)of SDWA
6. Chromium-6 will be measured as soluble chromate ion (CASRN 13907-45-4)
Monitoring
Time frame: One consecutive 12-month period during January 2013 - December 2015 (monitoring can span more than one calendar year,
as long as conducted during a consecutive 12-month period).
Frequency: Ground Water. Monitoring will occur twice in one consecutive 12-month period. Sample events must occur 5 - 7 months apart.
Surface Water or GUDI: Monitoring will occur in 4 consecutive quarters, with sampling events occurring 3 months apart.
Location: Entry point to the distribution system (EPTDS) for all contaminants, as well as distribution system maximum residence time
sampling locations for chromium, chromium-6, cobalt, molybdenum, strontium, vanadium and chlorate.
Laboratories: Samples must be analyzed by EPA-approved laboratories. EPA-approved laboratories will be listed on the UCMR website at
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ucmr/ucmr3/laboratories.cfm.
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Critical Deadlines and Requirements
Due Date
October 1, 2012
August 1, 2012
October 1, 2012
Within 120 days
of sample
collection
Within 60 days of
lab posting data
Requirement
Following Rule Publication
Systems must submit contact information to SDWARS. (Any subsequent
changes must be submitted within 30 days of the change occurring).
Laboratories seeking approval must submit a registration form to
participate in the laboratory approval process. For more information see:
http://water.epa.Rov/lawsreRS/rulesreRS/sdwa/ucmr/ucmr3/laboratories.cfm.
Ground water systems that wish to monitor from representative EPTDSs
must submit either state-approved, UCMR 2-approved or propose a new
representative sampling plan.
Deadline for systems to change their monitoring schedule (after October 1,
systems must provide an explanation for the requested schedule change
and obtain EPA approval of the change).
PWSs review/edit if necessary, inventory information for sampling
locations.
Following Sample Collection
Laboratories post data to SDWARS.
PWSs review and approve the data. If the PWS has not taken action after
60 days, the data are considered approved and ready for state and EPA
review.
Report
through
SDWARS1
X
X
X
X
X
Contact
Sampling
Coordinator2
X
X
X (after
October 1)
X (after
October 1)
1. Safe Drinking Water Accession and Review System; at http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ucmr/ucmr3/reporting.cfm.
2. Contact via email at: UCMR Sampling Coordinator@epa.gov.
UCMR List 1 Data Elements
Public Water System
Identification (PWSID)
Code
Public Water System
Facility Identification
Code
Water Source Type
Sampling Point
Identification Code
Sampling Point Type
Code
Disinfectant Type
Sample Collection Date
Sample Identification
Code
Contaminant
Analytical Method Code
Sample Analysis Type
Analytical Results-Sign
Analytical Result-Value
Laboratory Identification
Code
Sample Event Code
Additional Information
The Public Notification Rule (40 CFR §141.207), published
on May 4, 2000 (65 FR 25982) with amendments and
corrections included in the Code of Federal Regulations for
the Public Notification Rule published on July 1, 2006,
requires PWSs to notify the public annually that the results
of monitoring for unregulated contaminants are available.
CWSs may include their public notice within their CCRs.
Details on these reporting requirements can be found in the
document: Revised Public Notification Handbook (EPA
816-R-09-013), available on EPA's website at:
http://water.epa.Rov/lawsreRS/rulesreRS/sdwa/publicnotific
ation/upload/PNrevisedPNHandbookMarch2010.pdf
Under the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) Rule, as specified
in 40 CFR §141.153(d), CWSs must report the monitoring results
whenever unregulated contaminants are detected. CCRs are to
be sent to all billing customers each year by July 1. (The CCR Rule
does not apply to non-community water systems). Details on
these reporting requirements can be found on the CCR Home
Page at: http://water.epa.Rov/drink/info/ccr/reRulations.cfm
For More Information
* Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426 - 4791
* CDX/SDWARS Help Desk: (888) 890-1995
«J« http://water.epa.Rov/lawsreRS/rulesreRS/sdwa/ucmr/ucmr3/
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