Drinking Water Regulations Flashcards
5 Primary contaminants of public health importance
Inorganic Organic Turbidity Microbial Radiological
Inorganic contaminant examples
Lead
Mercury
Organic contaminant examples
Pesticides, herbicides, trihalomethanes, solvents, synthetic organic compounds
What is turbidity
Small particles suspended in water that interfere with light penetration and disinfection
Microbial contaminant examples
Bacteria
Viruses
Protozoa
Radiological contaminant examples
Natural and man made radiation sources
What is a MCLG
Maximum contaminant level goal
What is an MCL
Maximum contaminant level
EPA must demonstrate what in order to regulate a substance
- It has an adverse health effect
- Is known/high chance to occur is PWS
- Meaningful opportunity for health risk reductions for people served by PWSs
What does NPDWR mean
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
What are Inorganic Chemicals
Metals, Salts, other chemical compounds that don’t contain carbon
Benefits of a CCR
- Increased consumer knowledge
- Increased awareness to potential health risk
- Increased communication
What is a CCR?
Consumer confidence report
What are inorganic chemicals
Inorganic chemicals are metals, salts, and other chemical compounds that do not contain carbon
What is the purpose of the consumer confidence report rule
To improve public health protection by providing educational material to allow consumers to make educated decisions regarding any potential health risks of their water supply.
Why is Benzene regulated
To prevent Anemia
Common uses for Trichloroethylene (TCE)
Household products, dry cleaning agents, industrial metal cleaners and polishers, refrigerants, and anesthetics
What are organic chemicals
Natural or synthetic chemical compounds that contain carbon
Why are microbial contaminants a public health concern
Potential public health risk of acute outbreaks of disease
What is the purpose of the TCR (Total Coliform rule)
Protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system and monitoring for the presence of microbial contamination
What is the most basic test for bacterial contamination of a water supply
Test for total coliform bacteria
What does the final RTCR (Revised Total coliform rule) establish
It establishes MCLG and MCL for E. Coli and eliminates the MCLG and MCL for total coliform replacing them with treatment techniques that require assessment and corrective action
Which organism is most implicated in US waterborne disease outbreaks
Giardia
What is the MCL for TTHMs
.080mg/L
What does MRDL stand for
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
What is pCi/L
picoCurie a measure of radioactivity. One picoCurie of radioactivity is equivalent to .037 nuclear disintegrations per second
Pg. 45
What is the purpose of the Radionuclides Rule
To reduce exposure to to radionuclides and reduce the risk of cancer
How does drinking water become contaminated with radioactive elements
Radium, Radon, uranium occur naturally in the ground and dissolve into groundwater supplies. Other sources could be nuclear power/processing plants, and uranium mines
What two categories are the MCLs for radiological contaminants divided into?
Natural Radioactivity and Manmade radioactivity
Pg. 45
Under what conditions are secondary drinking water regulations enforceable?
Federally they are not enforceable. It is up to states to regulate them.
List the secondary drinking water contaminants
- Zinc
- Iron
- Manganese
- Magnesium
- Total Dissolved Solids
- Silver
- Sulfate
- pH
- Odor
- Financing Agents
- Fluoride
- Corrosivity
- Copper
- Color
- Chloride
- Aluminum
Why is chloride a secondary contaminant?
It has corrosion effects especially in hot water
