1. Understanding Public Health Risks and Putting it into Context USEPA National Drinking Water Program Update for the NARUC Water Committee Presented at: NARUC Winter Meeting February 19, 2008 Washington, DC Presented By: Peter E. Shanaghan USEPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Washington, DC 20460

2. Discussion Points Unregulated Contaminants of Concern –Third Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL3) The Public Health Protection Context –SDWA Compliance –Ensuring Sustainable Multiple Barrier Protection –The Changing Nature of Change –Creating the Future We Want

3. Third Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL3) Draft CCL3 Being Released Today –90 Day Public Comment Period –104 Candidate Contaminants 93 Chemicals / Chemical Groups 11 Microbiological Contaminants SDWA requires EPA to formally decide to regulate/not regulate at least 5 contaminants from CCL every 5 years

4. –Product of Process Recommended by: National Academy of Science’s National Research Council National Drinking Water Advisory Council Best Available Health Effects & Occurrence Data & Information 284 Data Sources 7,500 Contaminants Selected for Initial Consideration Apply Screening Criteria Based on: Potential to Occur in PWS’s Potential for Public Health Concern Preliminary CCL Further Refined via: More Detailed Evaluation of Occurrence & Health Effects Expert Judgment Applied in Transparent Process Draft CCL3 for Public Review 104 Candidate Contaminants

5. National Research Council’s Committee on Drinking Water Contaminants “..scientific disagreements about the public health effects of contaminants and their relative severity are the norm and do not signal a deviation from sound science.” “…the committee continues to emphasize the need for expert judgment….and for a conservative approach that errs on the side of public health protection.” “Classifying Drinking Water Contaminants for Regulatory Consideration” http:www.nap.edu/catalog/10080.html

6. SDWA Compliance New Rules Being Implemented LT2/Stage 2 (Microbial & Disinfection Byproducts) Ground Water Rule Existing Rules Rules Under Development –Total Coliform / Distribution System FACA

7. The Multiple Barrier Approach Source Protection Treatment Distribution System Monitoring Response

8. Ensuring Sustainable Multiple Barrier Protection Utility “Capacity” –Technical –Financial –Managerial Ten Attributes of Effectively Managed Water Sector Utilities Product Quality Employee & Leadership Development Financial Viability Community Sustainability Stakeholder Understanding & Support Customer Satisfaction Operational Optimization Operational Resiliency Infrastructure Stability Water Resource Adequacy “National Capacity Development Strategic Plan” http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsys/pdfs/report_smallsystems_capacitydevelopment_strategicplan.pdf Emphasis On: State Programs Utility Capacity Development Ties to Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative

9. http://www.epa.gov/waterinfrastructure/pdfs/guidebook_si_energymanagement.pdf

10. Full Cost Pricing & Infrastructure Sustainability Definition of Full Cost Pricing A pricing structure for Drinking Water and Wastewater service which fully recovers the cost of providing that service in an economically efficient, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable manner, and which promotes efficient water use by customers.

11. Advancing the Dialogue on Full Cost Pricing NARUC “Resolution on Exploring the Joint Role of of Economic, Environmental, and Public Health Regulators in Promoting Water Infrastructure Sustainability” Draft Issue Papers Under Development: 1.Full-Cost Pricing, Utility Organization, and Level of Service 2.The Implications of Water Scarcity, Conservation Pricing and Declining Per Capita Use 3.Full-Cost Pricing and Affordability 4.Implementing Full-Cost Pricing: Considerations for Financing Infrastructure

12. Water Quantity Issues Demand Side Management –EPA’s “WaterSense” Program –Metering & Pricing Supply Side Management –Reducing Unaccounted for Water

13. The Changing Nature of Change Pace Scope Time Pace & Scope of Change

14. The Imperative for Integrated Water Resource Planning Watershed Scale Thinking Need to Balance: –Biophysical System: Climate Topography Land Cover Surface & Groundwater Hydrology Soils Water Quality Ecosystems –Socio-Economic Management System Human Demand for Water Water Storage, Allocation & Delivery Demands on State Government Institutions

15. Creating the Future We Want Responding to Global Climate Change Ensuring Sustainable Multiple Barrier Public Health Protection Collaborative, Open & Transparent Decision Making –Break Down Barriers Between Individuals Between Disciplines Within Organizations Between Agencies Between Public, Private & Non-Profit Sectors Between Levels of Government