Help for Small Systems in Complying with Drinking Water Regulations
Small System Compliance
Complying with Drinking Water Regulations is essential for protecting public health and ensuring safe drinking water. States and TA providers play a key role in helping small water systems evaluate the many compliance approaches.
A few of the compliance approaches are:
- Small systems may want to consider non-treatment options before installing new treatment technologies.
- If there are no practical or cost-effective non-treatment alternatives, small systems will need to consider treatment options.
States and TA providers can work with small water systems to review the options listed below.
Variances and Exemptions
Some states may extend compliance deadlines for systems that are unable to install treatment by the required deadline or that are unable to meet a drinking water standard.
Learn more about Small Drinking Water Treatment Variances.
Non-Treatment Options
Source Water Protection
Source water protection is the first barrier against drinking water contamination. Therefore, it is important for systems to evaluate source water quality information, such as the following, to identify threats to and methods for protecting their drinking water sources:
- Source Water Assessments (SWAs)
- Potential protection measures (For example, installing security around the water supply; posting notices in the watershed area; organizing volunteers to conduct source water monitoring).
- Associated costs.
Learn more about Source Water Protection.
Replace or Modify an Existing Source
Some systems may have access to another, higher quality water source. Systems may also be able to make improvements to existing, low-quality sources. It is important to evaluate:
- The availability and location of alternative sources.
- The quantity and quality of alternative water sources.
- Associated costs.
Blend Source Water
Systems that have multiple sources may be able to mix, or blend, these waters prior to distribution to their customers. Blending source water can help to lower contaminant concentrations. (Note: this activity may not be permitted in every state.) It is important to evaluate:
- The availability of other sources.
- The impact of blending on water quantity, quality, and flow rates.
- Additional measures (e.g., replacing pumps) needed to ensure compliance.
- Associated costs.
Evaluate Water System Partnership Options
Water system partnerships can provide opportunities for water systems to collaborate on compliance solutions through sharing resources, costs, and approaches with other nearby systems. Partnering with another water system may involve changes to the operational, managerial or institutional structure of a water system. This can range from informal arrangements (e.g., sharing equipment with another water system) to major changes (e.g., sharing a new treatment plant or interconnection with another water system).
Learn more about Water System Partnerships.Treatment Options
Install Point-of-Use (POU) or Point-of-Entry (POE) Treatment
POU or POE devices can be a technically simpler treatment option for small systems. It is important to evaluate:
- Whether POU or POE devices can be used for compliance with drinking water standard(s) at issue. (Note, not all states allow these devices.)
- Customer willingness to participate.
- Potential treatment maintenance and residual disposal problems.
- Associated installation and maintenance costs.
Learn more about POU and POE devices.
Install Centralized Treatment
For some small systems, centralized treatment may be the only option to comply with EPA regulations.
It is important to evaluate:
- Which treatment can best address compliance needs.
- Implications for, and availability of, treatment residual disposal options.
- Operator skill level required to run the treatment technology.
- Associated installation and operation and maintenance costs.
- Residual handling and disposal costs.
Learn more about Drinking Water Treatment Technologies.