In April 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin regulating the level of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in bottled water. Manufacturers will be required to annually monitor their finished bottled water products and source water for DEHP in order to maintain compliance with current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) regulations.

Read more about the allowable levels for DEHP in bottled water…

In response to a draft scientific review released in September 2010, the EPA has issued guidance to all public water systems (PWS) recommending enhanced monitoring and sampling programs specifically for hexavalent chromium [also known as chromium-6 or Cr(VI)] in drinking water.

Read more about monitoring for hexavalent chromium in drinking water…

By Heidi Brayer

At an April 2010 stakeholder’s meeting, the EPA discussed proposed plans for the third phase of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) program. If approved, approximately 4,800 public water utilities will be required to monitor up to 30 contaminants starting in 2013.

Learn more about UCMR…

The EPA has approved 12 drinking water testing methods for samples subject to the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). These methods are used in measuring levels of potential contaminants.

Read more about the drinking water methods…

In August 2010 the EPA issued a notice proposing new and revised analytical methods to be used under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

The proposed rule, entitled “Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants Under the Clean Water Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures”, will affect numerous EPA Methods, ASTM Methods, Standard Methods, and alternative test methods.

EPA methods:

Read more about the proposed CWA Methods…

By Gregory Salata, Ph.D., Kelso, WA

Many sampling programs include collection and analysis of an equipment blank to ensure there is no contribution of contaminants from the sampling equipment and associated process. To establish that sample collection procedures are contaminant free, an equipment blank is often collected. Equipment blanks are collected by passing water through the sample collection apparatus or utensil and collecting the water into the appropriate containers. To ensure that the water itself is contaminant free, the laboratory will supply the field crew with deionized (DI) water.

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EPA is developing a new approach to managing drinking water and is currently seeking comments by the public and stakeholders, including utilities, rural communities, and states.

The new approach will focus on four areas:

• Address contaminants as a groups rather than one at a time so that enhancement of drinking water protection can be achieved cost-effectively.
• Foster development of new drinking water technologies to address health risks posed by a broad array of contaminants.
• Use the authority of multiple statutes to help protect drinking water.
• Partner with states to develop shared access to all public water systems (PWS) monitoring data.

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