E.P.A. Delivers List of Priority Drinking Water Contaminants for Regulatory Consideration

WASHINGTON - E.P.A. is releasing its 3rd list of drinking water contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and may require regulation. E.P.A. will continue to evaluate and collect data on the contaminants, and determine by 2013 for some of them whether or not to propose drinking water regulations.

The contaminant candidate list (CCL 3) includes 104 chemical contaminants or groups and twelve microbes. Among them are contaminants, pesticides, disinfection byproducts, pharmaceuticals, chemicals used in commerce, waterborne pathogens and algal toxins. The agency's selection of the contaminants builds upon evaluations used for previous lists and is based on substantial expert input and recommendations from different groups including stakeholders, the National Research Council and the National Drinking Water Advisory Council.

E.P.A. will make regulatory determinations for at least 5 contaminants in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. For those CCL three contaminants that lack sufficient information for a regulatory determination by 2013, E.P.A. will encourage research to provide the information needed.

The agency evaluated approximately 7,500 chemicals and microbes and selected 116 candidates for the final list based on their potential to pose health risks through drinking water exposure.

The agency considered the best accessible health effects and occurrence data and information to evaluate unregulated contaminants.

A outline CCL three was published for review and review on February 21, 2008. E.P.A. reviewed and analyzed the information provided in the comments in developing the final CCL 3.

More information on the contaminant candidate list: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl

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