United States Environmental Protection M * Agency The Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) Program Overview Fact Sheet What is the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR)? As part of its responsibilities under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implements Section 1445(a)(2), Monitoring Program for Unregulated Contaminants. SDWA requires that once every five years, EPA issue a list of priority unregulated contaminants to be monitored by certain public water systems across States, Tribes, and Territories. These contaminants may be present in drinking water but are not yet subject to EPA drinking water standards. Under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR), EPA collects nationally representative drinking water occurrence data to support EPA's future regulatory determinations and, as appropriate, assist in the development of national primary drinking water regulations (NPDWRs). For each UCMR cycle, EPA establishes a new list of contaminants for monitoring, specifies which systems are required to monitor, identifies the sampling locations, and defines the analytical methods to be used. On December 17, 2021, EPA Administrator Michael Regan signed the final "Revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) for Public Water Systems" and the rule was subsequently published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73131). The 5-year UCMR 5 cycle spans 2022 - 2026, with preparations in 2022, sample collection from 2023 - 2025, and completion of data reporting in 2026. Which water systems will participate in UCMR 5? Section 2021 of America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA) (Public Law 115-270) amended SDWA and specifies that, subject to the availability of EPA appropriations for such purpose and sufficient laboratory capacity, EPA must require all public water systems serving between 3,300 and 10,000 people to monitor and ensure that a nationally representative sample of systems serving fewer than 3,300 people monitor for the contaminants in UCMR 5 and future UCMR cycles. Systems serving a population of more than 10,000 people (large systems) continue to be responsible for participating in the UCMR program. EPA anticipates approximately one-third of all systems will collect samples each year between 2023 and 2025. If EPA does not receive the appropriations needed in a given year, EPA will reduce the number of small systems that will be asked to perform monitoring. Size Category (Number of People Served) Monitoring Design (CWSs and NTNCWSs)2 Total # of Systems per Size Category Small Systems1 (fewer than 3,300) Nationally representative sample 800 Small Systems1 (3,300-10,000) All systems, if confirmed by EPA 5,1473 Large Systems (10,001 and over) All systems 4,3643 Total 10,311 1. This requirement is based on the availability of appropriations and sufficient laboratory capacity 2. Community Water Systems (CWSs), Non-Transient Non-Community Water Systems (NTNCWSs) 3. Counts are approximate Office of Water (MS-140) EPA 815-F-21-009 December 2021 ------- What contaminants are in UCMR 5? UCMR 5 specifies monitoring for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium listed in the table below. Contaminant CASRN1 MRL2 (l-ig/L) Additional Information 25 PFAS: EPA Method 533 ll-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-l-sulfonic acid (HCI-PF30UdS) 763051-92-9 0.005 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2FTS) 39108-34-4 0.005 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2FTS) 757124-72-4 0.003 1H,1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2FTS) 27619-97-2 0.005 4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA) 919005-14-4 0.003 PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide range of consumer products and 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-l-sulfonic acid (9CI-PF30NS) 756426-58-1 0.002 hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA)(GenX) 13252-13-6 0.005 nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA) 151772-58-6 0.02 industrial applications perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA) 113507-82-7 0.003 including: non-stick cookware, perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) 377-73-1 0.004 water-repellent clothing, stain- perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) 863090-89-5 0.003 resistant fabrics and carpets, perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) 375-73-5 0.003 cosmetics, firefighting foams, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) 375-22-4 0.005 electroplating, and products perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) 335-76-2 0.003 that resist grease, water, and oil. PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals and in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the United States and the world. perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) 307-55-1 0.003 perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) 375-92-8 0.003 perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) 375-85-9 0.003 perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) 355-46-4 0.003 perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) 307-24-4 0.003 perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) 375-95-1 0.004 perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) 1763-23-1 0.004 perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 335-67-1 0.004 perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) 2706-91-4 0.004 perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) 2706-90-3 0.003 perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) 2058-94-8 0.002 4 PFAS: EPA Method 537.1 W-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) 2991-50-6 0.005 W-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) 2355-31-9 0.006 See above for PFAS perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) 376-06-7 0.008 information. perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) 72629-94-8 0.007 Metal/Pharmaceutical: EPA Method 200.7; SM3 3120 B (2017); SM3 3120 B-99 (1999); ASTM4 D1976-20 Naturally occurring metal that may concentrate in brine lithium 7439-93-2 Q waters; lithium salts are used Z) as pharmaceuticals, used in electrochemical cells, batteries, and in organic syntheses. 1. CASRN - Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number 2. MRL- Minimum Reporting Level 3. SM - Standard Methods 4. ASTM - ASTM International Page 2 of 6 ------- Where will samples be collected? UCMR 5 samples will be collected at entry points to the distribution system (EPTDS) for all contaminants. • With prior approval, large ground water systems that have multiple EPTDSs can sample at representative sampling locations rather than at each EPTDS through a Ground Water Representative Monitoring Plan (GWRMP). • Systems that purchase water with multiple connections from the same wholesaler may select one representative connection from that wholesaler. The representative EPTDS must be a location within the purchaser's water system. This EPTDS sampling location must be representative of the highest annual volume. What is the sampling frequency and timing? Water systems will be required to collect samples based on the typical UCMR sampling frequency and timeframe. Water Source Timeframe Sampling Frequency Surface water, ground water under the direct influence of surface water, or mixed sources systems Year-Round Systems must monitor 4 times during a consecutive 12-month monitoring period. Sample events must occur 3 months apart. Ground water systems Year-Round Systems must monitor 2 times during a consecutive 12-month monitoring period. Sample events must occur 5-7 months apart. What does UCMR 5 participation involve? Who pays? All systems required to participate in UCMR 5 will collect samples. As with previous UCMRs, large systems make arrangements with approved laboratories and pay for their own sample shipping and analytical costs; EPA arranges for the analysis of small-system samples and pays for shipping and analytical costs. All laboratories conducting analyses for UCMR 5 must receive EPA approval to perform those analyses (UCMR Laboratory Approval Program). How did EPA select the UCMR 5 contaminants? The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) specifies that EPA shall include all PFAS in UCMR 5, for which a drinking water method has been validated by the Administrator and that are not subject to an NPDWR. Accordingly, UCMR 5 includes all 29 PFAS that are within the scope of EPA Methods 533 and 537.1, as well as lithium. In evaluating contaminants for UCMR 5, EPA considered the fourth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 4) as well as contaminants nominated by the public for potential inclusion on the fifth CCL (CCL 5) and other priority contaminants. EPA selected UCMR contaminants using a multi-step prioritization process. The first step identified contaminants that were not monitored under previous UCMR cycles; may have significant occurrence nationally; and have a completed, validated drinking water method. The next step focused on contaminants associated with one or more of the following considerations: an available health assessment to facilitate regulatory determinations; high public concern; critical health endpoints (for example, a likely or suggestive carcinogen); active use (for example, pesticides); and/or an occurrence data gap. Then EPA considered stakeholder input; looked at cost-effectiveness of analytical methods (single methods that address multiple contaminants of interest); considered implementation factors (such as laboratory capacity); and further considered available health data (e.g., children), occurrence data, and persistence/mobility data. Page 3 of 6 ------- What are the public health benefits of the UCMR program? The UCMR program provides EPA and other interested parties with nationally representative occurrence data on emerging contaminants in drinking water. The data can be used to support EPA's regulatory determinations and may support additional actions to protect public health. The public benefits from the information about whether or not unregulated contaminants are present in their drinking water. If contaminants are not found, consumer confidence in their drinking water should improve. If contaminants are found, related health effects may be avoided when subsequent actions, such as regulations, are implemented, reducing or eliminating those contaminants. Where can consumers find UCMR results? All systems are required to report their data to EPA. The analytical results from UCMR are stored in the National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD) for drinking water. For a summary of the UCMR results, tips for querying NCOD, and health effects information (including reference concentrations), please refer to the UCMR Occurrence Data webpage. The Public Notification Rule requires that all systems notify their customers of the availability of UCMR results no later than 12-months after results are known. Community Water Systems (CWSs) are also required to report UCMR results in their annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) when unregulated contaminants are detected (the CCR Rule does not apply to non-community water systems). CWSs may include their public notice within CCRs, also known as annual drinking water quality reports, which are to be delivered to all billing customers by July 1 of each year. CWSs must report the average of the year's monitoring results and the range of detections. To obtain a copy of their CCR, consumers may check their water bill for information or contact their water supplier. Additional information about the CCR including details on reporting requirements can be found on the CCR Homepage. Page 4 of 6 ------- What are the key deadlines and requirements? Due Date Requirement Report via SDWARS1 Following Rule Publication on December 27, 2021 August 1, 2022 Laboratories seeking approval must complete and submit the necessary registration form and application materials in order to participate in the laboratory approval process. Contact UCMR Lab Approval@epa.gov for more information. December 31, 2022 Large systems must register for EPA's web-based reporting system "SDWARS", accept their notification letter, and update sampling location(s) and zip code(s). If applicable, the system may update their monitoring schedule. After December 31, 2022, large systems must contact UCMR Sampling Coordinator@epa.gov to request any changes. X December 31, 2022 Small systems must register for SDWARS, accept their notification letter and update sampling location(s), shipping address, and zip code(s). Systems must provide an explanation and obtain approval for any requested monitoring schedule change. Contact the UCMR Message Center at UCMR5@glec.com for more information. X 6 months prior to the water system's scheduled sample collection Large ground water systems (or large surface water systems with ground water sources) that wish to monitor from representative EPTDSs may submit a ground water representative monitoring plan (GWRMP) approved under a prior UCMR cycle or a proposal for a new representative sampling plan. Systems scheduled for sample collection in 2023 are encouraged to submit plans by December 31, 2022, to allow time for review by EPA and, as appropriate, the State. Contact UCMR Sampling Coordinator@epa.gov for more information. Following Sample Collection Within 90 days of sample collection Laboratories post data to SDWARS. X Within 30 days of laboratory posting data Large water systems review and approve the data. If the system has not acted upon the data after 30 days, the data are considered approved and ready for state and EPA review. X 1. Safe Drinking Water Accession and Review System (SDWARS). Page 5 of 6 ------- What are the data elements EPA will collect? EPA will collect the following information in EPA's web-based data reporting system, SDWARS. Public Water System Identification (PWSID) Code Disinfectant Type Analysis Date Public Water System Name Treatment Information Sample Analysis Type Public Water System Facility Identification Code Sample Collection Date Analytical Result-Sign Public Water System Facility Name Sample Identification Code Analytical Result-Measured Value Public Water System Facility Type Contaminant Additional Value Water Source Type Analytical Method Code Laboratory Identification Code Sampling Point Identification Code Extraction Batch Identification Code Sample Event Code Sampling Point Name Extraction Date Historical Information for Contaminant Detections and Treatment Sampling Point Type Code Analysis Batch Identification Code Potential PFAS Sources Where can I find more information? • Safe Drinking Water Information Website for information on how to submit drinking water comments or questions to EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water • UCMR Website for information on current and past UCMRs, occurrence data, and public meetings • EPA Ground Water and Drinking Water Website for information on source water protection, drinking water regulations, monitoring requirements for States and systems, SDWA on Tribal lands, and laboratory certification • EPA PFAS Website for information on the Agency's actions to address PFAS Questions? • Contact the UCMR Message Center at UCMR5@glec.com for general information about monitoring requirements or navigating SDWARS • Contact UCMR Sampling Coordinator@epa.gov for changes to large water system inventory and/or schedule after December 31, 2022 • Contact UCMR Lab Approval@epa.gov for information on the laboratory approval program and general laboratory support Page 6 of 6 ------- |