Groundwater Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Ground Water Rule (GWR) on November 8, 2006.  The purpose of the GWR is to provide increased protection against microbial pathogens, specifically bacterial and viral pathogens, in public water systems that use ground water. Instead of requiring 4-log treatment for all ground water systems, the GWR establishes a risk-targeted approach to identifying systems that are susceptible to fecal contamination. The GWR requires systems at risk of microbial contamination to take corrective action to protect consumers from harmful bacteria and viruses. The compliance deadline for the GWR is December 1, 2009. The basic requirements of the GWR include:

• Sanitary surveys
• Source water monitoring
• Compliance monitoring
• Corrective actions

Groundwater Rule Documents

• Understanding "CT" (.xls)
• Monthly Disinfection Report for the Groundwater Rule (.xls)
• Certification of 4-Log Treatment under the Groundwater Rule
• Groundwater Rule Compliance Monitoring Requirements
• Ground Water Rule compliance Monitoring: A Quick Reference Guide
• Ground Water Rule (GWR) Monitoring Requirements-water systems with their own source that do not purchase water or sell water to another water system
• Ground Water rule (GWR) Monitoring Requirements consecutive systems with their own source conducting triggered source water monitoring
• Ground Water Rule (GWR) monitoring requirements consecutive systems without their own source