Federal Register Action: Expedited Approval of Alternative Test
Procedures for the Analysis of Contaminants Under the Safe
Drinking Water Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

EPA is approving 93 alternative test procedures for contaminants listed in the drinking
water regulations. These procedures have been determined by the Agency to be as
effective as the methods already established in the regulations for the same
contaminants. EPA has used its streamlined approval authority to make these 93
alternative methods available for determining contaminant concentrations in samples
collected under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

Background

Public water systems must use a testing method approved by the Agency when
performing analyses of samples required by regulation under SDWA. When EPA
establishes a monitoring requirement for a drinking water contaminant, it specifies at
least one "reference" analytical method that can be used to determine the
contaminant's concentration in drinking water.

Reference methods that are incorporated into the regulations are approved through a
rulemaking process. In general, this means that EPA publishes a proposed rule, citing the
method along with a discussion of how the method can be used to analyze compliance
samples. The method is proposed for approval in conjunction with monitoring
requirements for one or more specific contaminants. EPA solicits and evaluates public
comment before approving the method via a final rule. Under that process, the method
is not approved for analysis of samples until it is referenced in a final rule.

After establishing monitoring requirements in the final rule, EPA continues to evaluate
any new or revised analytical methods for testing drinking water contaminants to
determine if they are as effective as methods already established in the regulations. Based
on the evaluation, the Agency then uses its streamlined approval authority to make the
new methods available for determining contaminant concentrations in samples collected
under SDWA. Methods approved under the expedited approval process are referenced in
Appendix A to Subpart C of Part 141 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Office of Water (MS - 4606 M)

EPA 815-F-24-001

January 2024

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Summary of Action

EPA has evaluated 93 testing methods for contaminants listed in the regulations and
determined them to be as effective as methods already established in the regulations
for those contaminants. The Agency is using its streamlined approval authority to make
these 93 optional, alternative methods listed in Tables 1 and 2 available for determining
contaminant concentrations in samples collected under SDWA.

Table 1. ASTM and Vendor-Developed Methods

Method	Contaminant(s)/Parameter(s)

ASTM D 3454-21	Radium-226

Hach Method 10312	Fluoride

Yokogawa Method 820	Turbidity

Table 2. Standard methods

Chemistry Methoc

s (24th edition)

2120 B

4110 B

4500-F" B

4500-S042" C

7120

2130 B

4500-CI D

4500-F" C

4500-S042" D

7500-CsB

2150 B

4500-CI E

4500-F" D

4500-S042" E

7500-3H B

2320 B

4500-CI F

4500-F" E

4500-S042" F

7500-1 B

2510 B

4500-CI G

4500-H+B

5310 B

7500-1 C

2540 C

4500-CI H

45OO-NO3- D

5310 C

7500-1 D

2550

4500-CI 1

45OO-NO3- E

5540 C

7500-RaB

3111 B

4500-CI" B

45OO-NO3- F

5910 B

7500-RaC

3111 D

4500-CI" D

4500-N02" B

6251 B

7500-Ra D

3113 B

4500-CI02 C

4500-03 B

6610 B

7500-Ra E

3114 B

4500-CI02 E

4500-PE

6640 B

7500-SrB

3112 B

4500-CN" C

4500-PF

6651 B

7500-U B

3120 B

4500-CN" E

4500-SiO2 C

7110 B

7500-U C

3500-CaB

4500-CN"F

4500-SiO2 D

7110 C



3500-Mg B

4500-CN" G

4500-SiO2 E

7110 D



Micro Methods (24th edition)

9221 A

9221 E

9222 C

9222 J

9230 D

9221 B

9221 F

9222 D

9223 B



9221 C

9222 A

9222 H

9230 B



9221 D

9222 B

9222 1

9230 C

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Additional Information and Copies

You can view or download the complete text of the Expedited Method Approval Federal
Register final action (https://www.epa.gov/dwanalyticalmethods).

A listing of the methods approved using the expedited approval process can also be
downloaded from the same website.

You can learn more about the Expedited Method Approval Process for drinking water
and the alternative testing methods approved under the program by contacting the Safe
Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or Teresa Wells, Technical Support Branch
(MC-140), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268;
(e-mail wells.teresa@epa.gov).

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