Lead and Copper Rule Considered at Recent NDWAC Meeting

On November 17-19, 2015, EPA’s National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) met in Arlington, Virginia to consider an array of national drinking water issues and to provide advice and feedback to U.S. EPA.  The Council is comprised of representatives of a variety of stakeholder groups, including water utilities (both large and small), public interest groups, the public health community, and states.  State drinking water programs are represented on the Council by Sarah Pillsbury (NH) and Jill Jonas (WI).  Jill currently serves as Chair of the Council.

During the meeting, the Council received updates on an array of activities, including guidance and information about Harmful Algal Blooms; control of Legionella; the status of both regulations and regulatory tool development; and the long term revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR).  The latter topic was the principal focus of the meeting, with a particular concentration on the August 24, 2015 report of a NDWAC Working Group to the full NDWAC (copy attached).  (June Swallow (RI) and Derrick Dennis (WA) served on the NDWAC Working Group, which deliberated over the course the past hear and a half over seven face to face meetings – ultimately producing the August report.)

After considering all aspects of the Working Group’s report and after hearing a dissenting opinion as well as a number of public comments, the Council accepted the principal thrust of the report and planned to forward it, in the near future, to EPA’s Administrator — but with a number of refinements and enhancements to several of the recommendations.  ASDWA will share a copy of the NDWAC’s final letter of recommendation as soon as it’s available.  Our thanks to June, Derrick, Sarah, and Jill for the dedication and for representing states extremely well on these issues.