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| Consumer Confidence         Reports: Final Rule 
EPA 816-F-98-007        August 1998

Again demonstrating its commitment to public health protection and the         public's right-to-know about local environmental information, the         U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring water suppliers         to put annual drinking water quality reports into the hands of their customers.         These consumer confidence reports, which EPA developed in consultation         with water suppliers, environmental groups, and the states, will enable         Americans to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health         and their environment.�

While water systems are free to enhance their reports in any useful way,         each report must provide consumers with the following fundamental information         about their drinking water:
- the lake, river, aquifer, or other source of the drinking water;
- a brief summary of the susceptibility to contamination of the local           drinking water source, based on the source water assessments that states           are completing over the next five years;
- how to get a copy of the water system's complete source water           assessment;�
- the level (or range of levels) of any contaminant found in local drinking           water, as well as EPA's health-based standard (maximum contaminant           level) for comparison;
- the likely source of that contaminant in the local drinking water           supply;
- the potential health effects of any contaminant detected in violation           of an EPA health standard, and an accounting of the system's actions           to restore safe drinking water;�
- the water system's compliance with other drinking water-related           rules;
- an educational statement for vulnerable populations about avoiding             Cryptosporidium ;
- educational information on nitrate, arsenic, or lead in areas where           these contaminants are detected above 50% of EPA's standard; and
- phone numbers of additional sources of information, including the           water system and EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).�

This information will supplement public notification that water systems         must provide to their customers upon discovering any violation of a contaminant         standard. This annual report should not be the primary notification of         potential health risks posed by drinking water, but will provide customers         with a snapshot of their drinking water supply.�

The first reports were due October 1, 1999, and the reports will be available         by July 1 each year thereafter. Water systems in California and many metropolitan         areas already provide reports containing some of this information. This         rule affects 55,000 water systems, and the information in the reports         reaches some 248 million people nationwide. Large water systems� mail         the water quality reports to their customers, either with water bills         or as a separate mailing, and� take steps to get the information to people         who do not receive water bills. Some smaller water systems (those serving         fewer than 10,000 people) may be able to distribute the information through         newspapers or by other means. The largest water systems must post their         reports on the Internet, in addition to other delivery mechanisms, to         make the reports easily accessible to all consumers. EPA will work with         smaller systems to get their reports online.�

EPA is committed to use of the Internet as a way for citizens to find         information about their drinking water. EPA has a 		local drinking water information         web page that offers links to many Internet-accessible water quality reports.         In addition, the public can use the site to find specific information         about its local drinking water supply, including information about the         state's drinking water program and source water protection program.�

As with other drinking water rules, states may set their own regulations         for the reports from systems within their borders. The Safe Drinking Water         Act and this rule allow states the flexibility to set alternative report         requirements after public notice and comment, but the rule does set baseline         standards to ensure that all consumers receive reports that are comparable         and which include the same type and amount of basic information. Both         EPA and the states can take enforcement action to ensure that consumers'         right-to-know is respected by all water suppliers.�

Consumer confidence reports are the centerpiece of the right-to-know         provisions in the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The         Amendments contain several other provisions aimed at improving public         information about drinking water, including the annual public water system         compliance report and improved public notification in cases where a water         supplier is not meeting a contaminant standard. The Amendments also call         for increased public participation in the protection and delivery of safe         drinking water. For example, citizen advisory committees are helping states         to implement their source water assessment activities and are involved         in decisions about allocating the state revolving loan fund that provides         funding for drinking water infrastructure improvements.�

To increase public awareness of the reports, the Agency established a         right-to-know working group of its National Drinking Water Advisory Council,         comprising representatives of the states, water systems, and consumer         and public health advocacy groups. This working group advised EPA on a         series of products to prepare the public for the information contained         in the reports.�

More information about this rule is available on EPA's drinking water         web site  http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr1.html         or from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).�                           |
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