EPA plans a survey on emerging contaminants
April 28, 2009

The EPA is preparing to issue a survey that would ask for information on the treated wastewater leaving municipal plants upstream of drinking-water plants using the same rivers and streams. The proposal states:

Improvements in analytical chemistry instrumentation have allowed scientists to detect trace amounts of chemicals that are commonly used in homes in the environment. These so-called "emerging contaminants" are chemicals, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, detergents and even endogenous hormones, which are either excreted from or washed off the body, and enter the wastewater treatment system.

Water-quality monitoring is presently done for a variety of parameters, including residual chlorine and turbidity, but if further standards are added as a result of this and/or other surveys, monitoring requirements could become complex.

April 2009
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last revised April 2009