Scientific American
Brian Bienkowski and Environmental Health News
The Environment of Health
Thursday, January 10, 2013
New Rules Tackle Bacteria in Drinking Water
Brian Bienkowski and Environmental Health News
The Environment of Health
Thursday, January 10, 2013
New Rules Tackle Bacteria in Drinking Water
Summery:
In this article it about the new national drinking water rules are expected to lead to fewer dangerous pathogens coming out of the tap.The new regulation, which was announced last month and takes effect within 3 years, switches focus to a type of bacteria that more accurately reflects the presence of pathogens that can make people sick. About 155,000 public water systems, providing water to more than 300 million people, must comply.water agencies have used an indicator of water quality called total coli form to check for dangerous fecal matter in drinking water.
The most common E. coli infection in the United States afflicts about 70,000 people a year. Most of the risk comes from food; about 15 percent of the cases are from tainted water, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Total coliform was used as a water quality indicator since the rule’s inception.Utilities still must test water for total coliform, a broad category of bacteria, most of which pose no threat to humans.Under the changes, total coliform findings will force an investigation into the cause and utilities will have to fix it. If it happens twice in a year, a third party will inspect the utility. This is to stop problems before they happen – total coliform usually isn't a health threat but often is a harbinger of worsening water quality.While small and rural systems might have more costs, Keegan said the revision is a good thing because they will face fewer violations.Smaller systems have historically had more violations due to lack of money, staffing and other resources, he said.The revisions signed by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, who will resign the post later this month, mark the first changes to the original rule.
In this article it about the new national drinking water rules are expected to lead to fewer dangerous pathogens coming out of the tap.The new regulation, which was announced last month and takes effect within 3 years, switches focus to a type of bacteria that more accurately reflects the presence of pathogens that can make people sick. About 155,000 public water systems, providing water to more than 300 million people, must comply.water agencies have used an indicator of water quality called total coli form to check for dangerous fecal matter in drinking water.
The most common E. coli infection in the United States afflicts about 70,000 people a year. Most of the risk comes from food; about 15 percent of the cases are from tainted water, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Total coliform was used as a water quality indicator since the rule’s inception.Utilities still must test water for total coliform, a broad category of bacteria, most of which pose no threat to humans.Under the changes, total coliform findings will force an investigation into the cause and utilities will have to fix it. If it happens twice in a year, a third party will inspect the utility. This is to stop problems before they happen – total coliform usually isn't a health threat but often is a harbinger of worsening water quality.While small and rural systems might have more costs, Keegan said the revision is a good thing because they will face fewer violations.Smaller systems have historically had more violations due to lack of money, staffing and other resources, he said.The revisions signed by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, who will resign the post later this month, mark the first changes to the original rule.
The reason why I choose to read this article it because I want to learn more about water. I hear some people said that the country in USA have new rule about water but i don't know what it is. After I read this article, I feel like too many people sick or maybe die it because they drink the water that still have somethings like it not clean at all but the normal eyes can't see. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that its revised rules will cost U.S. utilities an additional $14 million a year. That is expensive right! But I agree with them to do that it because if they keep ignore maybe all the people the USA will die.
About 100,000 of the federally regulated systems covered are “small,” serving fewer than 4,100 people, and about 62 percent of these small systems serve under 100 people, according to an economic analysis by the EPA. According to the EPA, about 86 percent of small system violations are for record-keeping failures. Keegan said total coliform notices for the state and public cause many violations – with few health benefits. The estimated $14-million increase in costs will be largely shouldered by smaller systems, according to large providers. The cost increase is mostly due to the need to investigate and fix when total coliform shows up. I hope that the Environment Protection Agency will sovle this problem and make the drinking water is clean and health for every people in USA. And hopefully everyone know how to save water not to wast. Because the Environment Protection Agency is work very hard for people in USA have a clean water to drink. So DON'T WAST WATER!
About 100,000 of the federally regulated systems covered are “small,” serving fewer than 4,100 people, and about 62 percent of these small systems serve under 100 people, according to an economic analysis by the EPA. According to the EPA, about 86 percent of small system violations are for record-keeping failures. Keegan said total coliform notices for the state and public cause many violations – with few health benefits. The estimated $14-million increase in costs will be largely shouldered by smaller systems, according to large providers. The cost increase is mostly due to the need to investigate and fix when total coliform shows up. I hope that the Environment Protection Agency will sovle this problem and make the drinking water is clean and health for every people in USA. And hopefully everyone know how to save water not to wast. Because the Environment Protection Agency is work very hard for people in USA have a clean water to drink. So DON'T WAST WATER!