State Drinking Water Administrators’ Current Issues NARUC Committee on Water Jim Taft, Executive Director Association of State Drinking Water Administrators February 18, 2008

2 Overview of Topics  Drinking Water Regulations & Regulatory Tools  Drinking Water Security  Water System Capacity Development  Source Water Protection  Data Management  Documenting and Measuring Success  State Resources  Importance of Partnerships

3 Implementing Recently Promulgated Drinking Water Rules LT 2/Stage 2 ( Microbial Contaminants/Disinfection By-Products): LT 2/Stage 2 ( Microbial Contaminants/Disinfection By-Products): Some states heavily involved in pre-primacy activities; others are preparing for post-primacy requirements. Some states heavily involved in pre-primacy activities; others are preparing for post-primacy requirements. Implementation has gone reasonably well; some of the main workloads are yet to hit with full force. Implementation has gone reasonably well; some of the main workloads are yet to hit with full force. Ground Water Rule: Ground Water Rule: States now preparing “primacy” applications. States now preparing “primacy” applications. Lead & Copper Rule Short Term Revisions: Lead & Copper Rule Short Term Revisions: States generally concur with the suite of rule “fixes.” States generally concur with the suite of rule “fixes.” Challenges: Challenges: Risked-based rules: time & resource consuming for states. Risked-based rules: time & resource consuming for states. States grapple with simultaneous compliance issues. States grapple with simultaneous compliance issues.

4 State Perspectives on Rule Development and Regulatory Tools Regulatory Determinations from CCL2: Regulatory Determinations from CCL2: States commented on the FR notice and await final decisions. States commented on the FR notice and await final decisions. Small System Affordability: Small System Affordability: States are concerned about approaches that would routinely lead to two-tier public health protection. States are concerned about approaches that would routinely lead to two-tier public health protection. 6-Year Review: 6-Year Review: States supported the 6 yr. review process by voluntarily providing occurrence data and recommending implementation changes. States supported the 6 yr. review process by voluntarily providing occurrence data and recommending implementation changes. Total Coliform-Distribution System Rule: Total Coliform-Distribution System Rule: States are actively participating in the FACA Committee and the supporting Technical Workgroup. States are actively participating in the FACA Committee and the supporting Technical Workgroup.

5 Drinking Water Security: Overview Integrating into Drinking Water Program: Integrating into Drinking Water Program: States seek to embed security into their every day programs (e.g., sanitary surveys, capacity development). States seek to embed security into their every day programs (e.g., sanitary surveys, capacity development). Areas of Emphasis: Areas of Emphasis: State believe in the importance of an “all- hazards” approach that emphasizes, in addition to prevention/detection, resiliency and recovery. State believe in the importance of an “all- hazards” approach that emphasizes, in addition to prevention/detection, resiliency and recovery. States Are the Vital Link: States Are the Vital Link: State drinking water programs will continue play a vital communication link between the Federal gov’t., other state agencies, and local entities. State drinking water programs will continue play a vital communication link between the Federal gov’t., other state agencies, and local entities.

6 Drinking Water Security: States Have Supported National Initiatives Water Sector Specific Plan: Water Sector Specific Plan: Heavy involvement in 12/06 submittal. Heavy involvement in 12/06 submittal. Mutual Aid Networks: Mutual Aid Networks: Supporting start-up of new networks. Supporting start-up of new networks. The Water Security Initiative (i.e., Water Sentinel): The Water Security Initiative (i.e., Water Sentinel): State representative on steering committee. State representative on steering committee. CIPAC Workgroups: CIPAC Workgroups: State representatives and ASDWA serve on CIPAC metrics workgroup and decontamination workgroup. State representatives and ASDWA serve on CIPAC metrics workgroup and decontamination workgroup. Participation in Government Sector Coordinating Council and Water-ISAC Board of Directors Participation in Government Sector Coordinating Council and Water-ISAC Board of Directors

7 Water System Capacity Development/Small System Focus At the national program development level, states and ASDWA have been active: At the national program development level, states and ASDWA have been active: Input on EPA’s Capacity Development Strategic Plan and Capacity Development Program Evaluation Tool (CDPET). Input on EPA’s Capacity Development Strategic Plan and Capacity Development Program Evaluation Tool (CDPET). Input on an array of guidances and training documents. Input on an array of guidances and training documents. States continue to work to ensure that systems have adequate capacity: States continue to work to ensure that systems have adequate capacity: Building small system T, M, & F capacity. Building small system T, M, & F capacity. Small system focus in implementation training. Small system focus in implementation training. Direct technical assistance and work through partners. Direct technical assistance and work through partners.

8 Source Water Assessment and Protection Partnerships and Collaboration: Partnerships and Collaboration: ASDWA & state drinking water programs continue to work with partners at all levels to develop collaborative strategies that leverage scarce resources and move from assessment to protection: ASDWA & state drinking water programs continue to work with partners at all levels to develop collaborative strategies that leverage scarce resources and move from assessment to protection: Source Water Collaborative Source Water Collaborative ASDWA/GWPC Workshop (September 2007) ASDWA/GWPC Workshop (September 2007) Representation at other workshops (e.g., AWWA January 2007) Representation at other workshops (e.g., AWWA January 2007) Updated guidance and information transfer Updated guidance and information transfer Reporting Progress: Reporting Progress: States have continued to do their best, in the face of resource constraints, to report on their voluntary source water protection programs. States have continued to do their best, in the face of resource constraints, to report on their voluntary source water protection programs.

9 Drinking Water Data Management Modernized Data Flow: Modernized Data Flow: We’ve largely completed the process of transitioning to the modernized data flow. We’ve largely completed the process of transitioning to the modernized data flow. Preparing to meet electronic reporting rule (CROMERR). Preparing to meet electronic reporting rule (CROMERR). Data Quality & Reliability: Data Quality & Reliability: We’ve been active in helping ensure accurate and reliable data with better measures of “data quality.” We’ve been active in helping ensure accurate and reliable data with better measures of “data quality.” Triennial Data Reliability Report. Triennial Data Reliability Report. Data Reliability Improvement Plan. Data Reliability Improvement Plan. Working on Data for a Variety of Users Working on Data for a Variety of Users

10 Measures of Success Logic Model To Assess Program Effectiveness: Logic Model To Assess Program Effectiveness: A state-EPA workgroup has kicked into high gear in piloting & revising logic model (meeting in D.C. in June 2007); all states will soon be involved. A state-EPA workgroup has kicked into high gear in piloting & revising logic model (meeting in D.C. in June 2007); all states will soon be involved. Improving Measures in 5 Year Plan: Improving Measures in 5 Year Plan: States have reported progress under the National Strategic Plan and 2007 National Water Program Guidance. States have reported progress under the National Strategic Plan and 2007 National Water Program Guidance. Future Measures: Future Measures: We’ve continued to be active (especially through the NDWAC) in responding to the challenge of developing “ultimate” outcome measures of success. We’ve continued to be active (especially through the NDWAC) in responding to the challenge of developing “ultimate” outcome measures of success.

11 State Drinking Water Resources Communicating Resource Needs: Communicating Resource Needs: Federal and state budgets are expected to continue to be extremely tight; it’s a sometimes discouraging picture. Federal and state budgets are expected to continue to be extremely tight; it’s a sometimes discouraging picture. States and ASDWA have continued to make the case at every opportunity for adequate state drinking water program resources. States and ASDWA have continued to make the case at every opportunity for adequate state drinking water program resources. Making Tough Choices: Making Tough Choices: States simply can’t do it all with declining resources and fuller plates; we’ve made tough choices and set priorities. States simply can’t do it all with declining resources and fuller plates; we’ve made tough choices and set priorities. We’d like to continue to work with our partners as we navigate through these difficult times. We’d like to continue to work with our partners as we navigate through these difficult times.

12 Importance of Partnerships A Key to Success: A Key to Success: States and ASDWA have continued to be willing and active partners with a variety of groups at all levels and seek to continue and improve on partnerships. States and ASDWA have continued to be willing and active partners with a variety of groups at all levels and seek to continue and improve on partnerships. Communication, Relationships, and Partnerships: Communication, Relationships, and Partnerships: We continue to seek to improve communications, find common ground, and leverage shared resources. We continue to seek to improve communications, find common ground, and leverage shared resources.