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Proposed changes to Michigan drinking water rules will better protect public health

Release Date: 06/26/2007
Contact Information: CONTACT: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 07-OPA107

CHICAGO (June 26, 2007) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 seeks comments on its tentative decision to approve four changes to Michigan's drinking water regulations that will enhance protection of public health and increase information provided to the public about their drinking water.

The changes are required under amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. As EPA adopts new drinking water regulations, states such as Michigan that administer their own programs must adopt rules at least as stringent.

Michigan plans to adopt: the revised Radionuclides Rule that will reduce exposure to radionuclides in drinking water and reduce the risk of cancer;

• the revised Arsenic and Clarifications to Compliance and New Source Monitoring (Arsenic) Rule to reduce the public's exposure to arsenic in drinking water, thereby reducing the frequency of cancers and noncarcinogenic diseases;
• the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule which will control microbial contaminants, particularly cryptosporidium; and
• the Filter Backwash Recycling Rule that requires changes to a water treatment plant's process that may otherwise compromise microbial control.