P/EPA
www.epa.gov/research
science in ACTION
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Small Drinking Water Systems Research and Development
Background
In the United States, there are 152,002 public water
systems (PWS) in operation. Of these, 97 percent are
considered small systems under the Safe Drinking Water
Act (SDWA)—meaning they serve 10,000 or fewer
people. While most of these small systems consistently
provide safe, reliable drinking water to their customers,
many face a number of challenges in their ability to
achieve and maintain system sustainability. Some of
these include changes in the quality of their source
waters, high operator turnover, aging infrastructure, and
lack of financial resources.
How EPA Research is Helping Small Systems
Oftentimes, small communities and their state primacy
agencies are reluctant to use novel approaches to
drinking water challenges because they may have hidden
costs or result in unforeseen health consequences for
the community. EPA's Office of Research and
Development is helping to build confidence in innovative
treatment technologies and approaches by conducting
research that small communities, including tribal
communities, and state primacy agencies can rely on to
successfully remove contaminants of interest, without
compromising the overall sustainability of their system.
Innovative Research
Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs)
CECs are chemicals or microorganisms that may be
present in the environment and have the potential to
cause adverse human health and ecological effects, but
have not historically been regarded as contaminants and
are not currently regulated. Factors such as agricultural
runoff, harmful algal blooms, and industrial land use
increase the probability that CECs, such as algal toxins,
pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and
endocrine disrupting compounds, will remain after
treatment—ending up in consumers' taps. This is likely
to disproportionately affect small systems due to, among
other factors, limited resources and treatment options.
EPA's work in identifying and quantifying treatment
challenges for these systems is an important step
towards mitigating present and future risks from CECs.
EPA research on disinfection technologies at a small
community in Puerto Rico. The research includes citizen
science efforts to help communities understand drinking
water treatment and address issues of concern to them.
Disinfection and Disinfection Byproducts
Drinking water can be a potential source of waterborne
illnesses from contamination of source waters or
contamination of treated water as it moves through the
distribution system to consumer taps. The growth of
specific pathogens associated with larger microbial
communities, known as biofilms, can occur on drinking
water pipe surfaces. Current treatments include the use
of disinfectants, which can have the harmful side effect
of producing disinfection byproducts (DBPs). A critical
challenge for PWS operators is to attain the multiple
goals of reduction of DBPs while maintaining microbial
and chemical water quality in distributed drinking water.
EPA's research is adding to our knowledge of the effects
of UV treatment, filtration, and chlorine and
monochloramine disinfectants on the microbial
communities in distribution systems.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
-------
EPA's disinfection research is also focusing on sensing,
sampling, and analytical techniques to examine biofilm
development, pathogens, nitrification, and exposure to
pathogens. The goal is to develop novel and innovative
ways to provide actionable data useful for small system
operators in optimizing their activities and
understanding exposure risks.
Innovative Inorganic Contaminants Treatment
EPA provides a research and development program on
cost-effective technologies for small systems to help
reduce their compliance costs. From nationwide
treatment technology demonstration programs, to
current research using biological treatment, EPA is
working to provide information and treatment
approaches to small systems to help them manage
inorganic contaminants—such as ammonia, arsenic,
nitrate, lead, and fluoride— in their water supplies. In
addition, research results will assist with revisions to
drinking water regulations and can be used by the states
for communicating novel and effective treatment
technologies to their systems.
A pilot system designed, built, and installed by EPA staff
in a small community in Iowa demonstrated the ability
to effectively remove ammonia and iron from the
community's source water, while keeping nitrite and
nitrate levels below their maximum contaminant levels
in the treated water. As part of a federal HUD grant, the
full-scale water treatment plant based on the pilot
system was completed, and the community now has a
functioning public water system. (Photo: EPA research
engineer, Darren Lytle, at the full-scale plant in Iowa).
National Research Centers
EPA has funded two National Research Centers for Small
Drinking Water Systems: the Design of Risk Reducing,
Innovative Implementable Small System Knowledge
(DeRISK) Center and the Water Innovation Network for
Sustainable Small Systems (WINSSS) Center, as part of
the Science to Achieve Results program. They will
develop and demonstrate innovative technologies to
better reduce, control and eliminate groups of chemical
or microbial contaminants in small water systems. They
will leverage efforts with stakeholders and researchers
involved in facilitating small drinking water system
sustainability. Investment in the Center projects will
enhance the resiliency of small systems and improve
water quality, thereby, protecting public health.
Development of Models and Tools
EPA researchers have developed models and tools to
help small systems with understanding treatment and
selecting innovative treatment technologies, estimate
costs for a national regulation, and provide individual
water treatment facilities with tools to estimate costs for
different compliance options. EPA will continue to
improve existing models and tools, and develop new
ones that are relevant to the needs of small systems.
Workshops, Webinars, and Workgroups
State and local officials across the Nation are faced with
effectively communicating information and overseeing
training for small system owners and operators with a
wide range of expertise. To ensure these systems are in
compliance with the SDWA, these officials need to stay
current on treatment alternatives, regulations, health
implications, and emerging contaminants. EPA is
committed to helping small systems deliver high quality
drinking water to their customers by providing
information, training, and technical assistance.
Additional Information
EPA's small systems research, including links to the
National Research Centers, models, tools, workshops,
and webinars: epa.gov/water-research/small-drinking-
water-and-wastewater-systems-research
Contacts
Michelle Latham, latham.michelle@epa.gov
Christopher Impellitteri, impellitteri.christopher@epa.gov
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
EPA/600/F-16/187 I August 2016
------- |