Last week, AMWA and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) sent a letter to EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) outlining ongoing concerns with the agency’s use of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to protect drinking water. The letter highlights the problems that drinking water systems and state programs face while also offering potential solutions.
Both associations have worked together to increase the dialogue on protecting drinking water sources via TSCA, having submitted numerous comments on Significant New Use Rules and chemical risk evaluations. This letter explains that although the Safe Drinking Water Act includes source water protection and treatment to ensure that drinking water is safe, it is "not intended to leave the burden of responsibility on the [public water systems] to remove toxic chemicals from the environment." The letter goes on to urge EPA to "better utilize its other regulatory authorities and offices, particularly TSCA and OSCPP, as the first line of defense to protect drinking water and public health."
AMWA and ASDWA have participated in several conversations with OCSPP staff to better protect drinking water sources, and the associations hope this letter will help expand this dialogue.