EPA proposes new Crypto standards for small communities

The US EPA has proposed new public health standards to remove Cryptosporidium and other potentially dangerous bacteria from water systems serving people in small communities.


The proposal also outlines how the $825 million Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund for fiscal year 2001 would be allocated among all the US states if fully funded by Congress.

In December l998, President Clinton announced public health standards to strengthen filtration and monitoring requirements for the removal of Crypto and other bacteria from large water systems

The new proposals – the Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Proposed Rule and the Filter Backwash Proposed Rule – would require 11,500 small water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people each to protect against Crypto. Currently, more than 18 million people are served by these smaller water systems.

The 2001 budget proposes $825 million for the Safe Drinking Water revolving Loan Fund to fund the upgrade of small communities’ water systems. The fund, created by the Safe Drinking Water Act amendments of l996, provides grants to make low-interest loans to cities to upgrade US drinking water systems. This initiative maintains that 15% of the loans must go to small communities.

The EPA will take public comment for 60 days on the proposals.

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