Speaking at AMWA’s 2014 Water Policy Conference, members of EPA’s leadership team addressed the agency’s priorities. EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Nancy Stoner and Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Director Peter Grevatt touched on similar themes in their talks with AMWA members. Each mentioned source water protection as an issue that was going to receive particular support as regulators look “upstream” to address pollution before it enters the environment and drinking water sources. Each also discussed the recently released proposal to clarify Clean Water Act jurisdiction over “Waters of the U.S.,” promising to work closely with stakeholders to further evaluate issues brought forth during the proposal’s public comment period.
Peter Grevatt reviewed the schedule for ongoing regulatory initiatives, including Lead and Copper Rule revisions, perchlorate and regulatory determinations. (Additional details on those and other efforts can be found in AMWA’s latest Regulatory Report.) One new area of focus he discussed in some detail is Legionella, which has been identified as a significant public health threat requiring further EPA action. Although Legionella is an issue primarily associated with premise plumbing and not under the control of public water systems, EPA will be looking to tap into utility expertise to develop guidance and other resources to help address the problem.