f/EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency The Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3) Fact Sheet for Pre-Screen Testing (List 3 Contaminants) Overview of the Rule *J* Title: Revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for Public Water Systems; 77 FR 26072, May 2, 2012. *J* 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). Pre-Screen Testing addresses contaminants that are analyzed with methods that utilize very new or specialized technology. The UCMR program is the primary source of drinking water contaminant occurrence data used by EPA in regulatory determinations. *J* Description: UCMR 3 includes Pre-Screen Testing for two List 3 viruses (enterovirus and norovirus), using an analytical method with two detection assays. Monitoring will also include five pathogen indicators. List 3 contaminants are always associated with a Pre-Screen Testing sampling design. EPA will sample for public water systems (PWSs) subject to Pre-Screen Testing within a 12-month period during 2013 - 2015. *J* Utilities Affected: A representative sample of 800 non-disinfecting ground water systems serving 1,000 or fewer retail customers, including community water systems (CWSs), non-transient non-community water systems (NTNCWSs) and transient systems are required to participate in Pre-Screen Testing. EPA will pay for all associated sampling and analysis costs. * Occurrence Data: The analytical results from UCMR 3 are stored in the National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD). For a summary of the NCOD results, tips for querying NCOD, and health effects information (including reference concentrations) please refer to the UCMR 3 Data Summary document. Pre-Screen Testing (List 3 Contaminants) Contaminant enterovirus norovirus Detection Assay Cell culture; qPCR1 qPCR1 Transmission Exposure to fecally- contaminated water or consumption contaminated water Exposure to fecally- contaminated water or consumption contaminated water of food exposed to the of food exposed to the 1. qPCR - quantitative polymerase chain reaction Indicators Indicator Monitoring: Systems selected for Pre-Screen Testing will also be subject to monitoring for microbial indicators. This monitoring will be conducted in conjunction with the virus monitoring to gain a better understanding of pathogen indicator and viral co-occurrence and to gain more exposure and health risk information on viruses and indicators in undisinfected ground water systems. The pathogen indicators are: Total coliforms E. coli Enterococci Bacteriophage Aerobic spores Office of Water (MS-140) EPA815-F-16-001 May 2016 ------- Pre-Screen Testing Monitoring *J* 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). *J* Frequency: Monitoring will occur twice in a consecutive 12-month period; sample events must occur 5-7 months apart. *J* Location: Entry point to the distribution system (EPTDS) for all contaminants. *J* Laboratories: If any system is notified by EPA or its state that it has been selected for Pre-Screen Testing, the system must permit EPA to sample and analyze for List 3 contaminants and pathogen indicators. Monitoring and analyses are organized and paid for by EPA through direct contracts. 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 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 following documents: Revised Public Notification Handbook (EPA 816-R-09-013) and Public Notification Handbook for Transient Non-Community Water Systems (EPA 816-R-09-009). 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 delivered 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. For More Information * Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426 - 4791 * CDX/SDWARS Help Desk: (888) 890-1995 *?* UCMR Homepage Page 2 of 2 ------- |