As communities expand wastewater treatment capacity, regulatory requirements can become as complex as the project design/engineering itself. Among the most nuanced requirements is anti-degradation, also known as non-degradation, a policy rooted in the Clean Water Act (CWA) that is increasingly relevant for growing systems. While technology-based effluent limits (TBELs) such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Read More
Chlorobenzene Under Review by MN Department of Health
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is taking a closer look at the chemical Chlorobenzene. The MDH Health Risk Assessment Unit began a chemical review of chlorobenzene in March. The agency reviews chemical toxicity information in response to requests from State agencies and individuals to determine if health-based guidance values need to be developed or Read More
USEPA Announces CCL 5 Contaminant Regulatory Determinations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced in mid-March that it will not develop regulations for nine of the 81contaminants listed on the Fifth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL5). The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires USEPA to make regulatory determinations every five years on at least five unregulated contaminants. USEPA used a three-phase process to Read More
How is Your Lead Service Line Inventory Coming Along? Tips to Get the Data You Need
Depending on the size and age of your public water system, completing the lead service line inventory may feel like one of the most labor-intensive regulatory compliance efforts your water system has ever undertaken. Under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), water systems have less than two years to Read More
USEPA Opens Proposed Perchlorate Regulation for Public Comment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is proposing a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) and a health‑based Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) for perchlorate. This regulatory action comes in response to the D.C. Circuit Court ruling in NRDC v. Regan, which found if USEPA issues a determination to regulate a contaminant, it must proceed Read More
Public Comments Accepted on New Fluoride Plan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released its “Review of Science on Fluoride in Drinking Water: Preliminary Assessment Plan and Literature Survey.” This fast-track effort marks a critical step in Administrator Lee Zeldin’s April 2025 directive to expedite USEPA’s next fluoride health assessment under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) schedule. The Preliminary Assessment Plan and Literature Read More