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EPARULES.ART
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1991-09-04
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The Environmental Protection Agency initiated new requirements on public
water supply systems on June 22, 1989. Public water systems effected include
both groundwater and surface water supply systems. These systems will have to
reach new standards on filtering out harmful microorganisms. The move is
expected to prevent 90,000 annual cases of waterborne disease. Although the
actual coliform bacteria do not generally cause disease, high levels of their
existence could mean disease-carry organisms are present.
The new rules are aimed at removing viruses and microbes that typically
cause intense and prolonged stomach upset. Some are also carriers of possibly
fatal diseases such as typhoid, hepatitis and Legionnaire's Disease.
Costs for the new treatments could require up to $3 billion in treatment
plant improvements in 9,800 systems. This includes at least 15 major cities.
Also, all 200,000 water systems nationwide are estimated to spend $70 million a
year to tighten coliform bacteria monitoring that comes from human and animal
waste. Costs will be highest for the 21 million Americans who get their water
from the 3,000 water systems that don't filter the water taken from
reservoirs, lakes or rivers.
Some systems may be able to meet the new EPA standards be switching to
other sources such as groundwater and reducing possible contamination sources.
Other less fortunate systems, an estimated 1,500 water systems, will probably
have to install filtration systems. The end costs on the consumer will raise
between $50 and $400 for the annual water bill.
According to the EPA, cities with unfiltered water supplies include New
York City, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Newark, Portland, Maine, Syracuse,
N.Y., Utica, N.Y., Scranton, Pa., Bethlehem, Pa., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.,
Greenville, S.C., Renosparks, Nev., Tacoma, Washington and Portland, Ore.
The other 6,800 surface-water system that filter the water will more than
likely have to upgrade their system to meet the new standards set by the EPA.
These systems serve about 138 million people who can expect between $2 and $75
added to their water bill a year.
The new rules also require systems to reduce particulate matter that
makes water cloudy. This standard will mean about $500 million a year in
extra operating expenses in addition to the $3 billion.
June 1993 is the set deadline for systems to meet the new filtration
requirements, but the EPA may granted an extra three years to those systems
facing major construction and/or financial hardship.
On the average, the new coliform standard will cost between $64 and $76
million which means an annual increase of up to $7 a year per household.