ASDWA Submits Comments to EPA on Potential MDBP Rule Revisions
EPA is currently seeking public input and information to inform potential regulatory revisions of the Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts (MDBP) rules following the Agency’s Six-Year Review 3, published in January 2017. In October 2020, EPA hosted a two-day virtual public meeting to gather input on improving public health protection from MDBPs in drinking water. After this meeting, EPA opened a public docket to provide the opportunity to submit additional feedback and information to EPA. On Tuesday, ASDWA submitted comments to EPA through the docket. ASDWA’s comments focus on seven themes for the potential revision of the MDBP rules:
- Increasing compliance with current rules and preparing water systems for future rule updates
- Addressing consecutive systems
- Improving management of DBP precursors
- Considering a numeric disinfectant residual requirement and addressing Legionella
- Developing health effects data and analytical methods for currently unregulated DBPs
- Evaluating and increasing operator capacity for better distribution system management
- Input on the rule development process
EPA will continue its stakeholder engagement on these potential rule updates throughout 2021 with a series of public meetings focusing on specific topics identified through public comments. More information on EPA’s public engagement is available here: Public Engagements: Potential Revisions of the Microbial and Disinfection Byproducts Rules | Six-Year Review of Drinking Water Standards | US EPA
