Public Water Systems
Face Compliance Date for New Federal Standard for Arsenic
Facilities Must Meet
Requirements Beginning January 2006
October 24, 2005
New federal drinking water standards designed to lower the
levels of arsenic in drinking water take effect Jan. 23, 2006,
for Pennsylvania's public water systems, Environmental
Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. The federal law
lowers the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for arsenic from
0.050 milligrams per liter (mg/L), or 50 ppb, to 0.010 mg/L, or
10 ppb.
"The department has been working aggressively to make sure
drinking water suppliers understand the federal requirements and
have in place the mechanisms they need to meet the new
standard," McGinty said. "Ensuring a smooth transition will
strengthen public confidence in the systems that supply our
public drinking water."
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
outreach efforts have been ongoing for years as the new
standards were being developed and finalized. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted the new standard
for arsenic in drinking water Jan. 22, 2001. The rule became
effective Feb. 22, 2002. The date by which systems must begin
complying with the new standard is Jan. 23, 2006. DEP
incorporates by reference federal MCLs as state MCLs.
DEP has been working with community water suppliers and
nontransient, noncommunity public water suppliers -- those that
serve water to at least 25 of the same people for more than six
months in a year, but not year-round -- to help bring their
operations into compliance ahead of the effective date.
The department sent letters to all public water system
operators in July informing them of the change, and DEP staff
members have been in direct contact with systems identified as
having arsenic levels above 0.010 mg/L in past monitoring.
According to historical information, about 90 of a total of
3,340 systems (or about 3%) have arsenic levels above 0.010
mg/L.
Efforts were made to inform these systems about various
grants and other programs available to offset the costs of
installing treatment, such as DEP's Growing Greener grants for
innovative technologies and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure
Development Authority's funding, and about EPA's Arsenic
Treatment Technology Research Demonstrations and Environmental
Technology Verification (ETV) Program.
Initial compliance monitoring for arsenic will begin after
the Jan. 23 effective date for the new MCL. State regulations
require water systems in violation of the MCL to issue public
notification and conduct more frequent monitoring as interim
measures until treatment is provided to reduce the arsenic
levels or a new source is brought on line.
Some studies have linked long-term exposure to high levels of
arsenic in drinking water to cancer of the bladder and lungs.
Short-term exposure to high doses of arsenic can cause other
adverse health effects, but such effects are unlikely to occur
from Pennsylvania's public water supplies that are in compliance
with the existing arsenic standard of 0.050 mg/L.
EPA set the current standard of 0.050 mg/L in 1975, based on
a Public Health Service standard originally established in 1942.
A March 1999 report by the National Academy of Sciences
concluded standards should be strengthened further to protect
public health.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection October 24, 2005 |