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    Drinking Water Regulations

    Stage 1 Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts Rule

    Stage 1 D/DBP EPA Fact Sheets

    Stage 1 D/DBP Rule Quick Reference Guide (PDF)

    D/DBP Small Systems Study

    Starting in 2004, staff at small filter plants will need to collect samples for the Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule. With the help of summer interns, the Department initiated a study called, "Investigation of Disinfection Byproducts in Small Surface Water Filtration Plants in Pennsylvania." (PDF)

    -- Reprinted from Proceedings of 2002 AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference, by permission. © 2002, American Water Works Association. To obtain complete document, contact AWWA at 800-926-7337 or visit www.awwa.org

    D/DBP Job Aids

    DBPR Sample Collection and Preservation Procedures (PDF)

    This document is a job aid for water suppliers to assist in collecting drinking water samples for compliance with the DBP Rule. The manual contains sampling procedures, a list of sampling equipment, quality assurance/quality control procedures, shipping and handling guidelines, and a list of EPA-approved analytical methods.

    D/DBP Monitoring & Reporting Manual (PDF) (revised May 2003)

    This manual is intended to serve as a job aid for water supply operators so they may better understand Pennsylvania's Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule. After reviewing this manual, water suppliers will be able to understand the DBP Rules compliance dates for water systems with various population sizes and source water types; find out where to access information on sample locations, monitoring frequencies, compliance calculations, and reporting frequencies for various population sizes and types of water systems; determine the requirements to qualify for and remain on a reduced monitoring program; find out about the treatment technique requirements for total organic carbon; and be able to describe the basic monitoring plan requirements.

    D/DBP Monitoring & Reporting Requirements Quick Look Tables (PDF), (revised May 2003)

    This document contains an individual table for each DBPR parameter. Each table includes the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL), number of required samples, sampling frequency and location, altered monitoring criteria, reporting requirements, and compliance information.

    D/DBP Monitoring Plan Template Pack (PDF),(revised June 2003)

    This document can be used to develop and implement a DBPR monitoring plan. It includes instructions, a blank template, and an example plan.

    The individual elements (instructions, blank template and example plan) are listed separately below if a water supplier does not need to download the entire document. A blank template is also available in Microsoft Word forms field format for users to download, fill in the open fields using Word, and print.

    Stage 1 D/DBP External Web Links

    Pennsylvania's Final D/DBP Rule (PA Bulletin, Vol.31, No.29, Saturday, July 21, 2001)

    This link will take you to the Environmental Quality Board's amendment to Chapter 109 Safe Drinking Water Regulations. The amendments establish maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) and monitoring requirements for free chlorine, combined chlorine and chlorine dioxide. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and monitoring requirements are established for five haloacetic acids, chlorite and bromate. The MCL for total trihalomethanes are being lowered. The proposed amendments also establish prefiltration treatment techniques for public water systems that use conventional filtration to reduce source water total organic carbon (TOC), which serves as a precursor to disinfection byproducts.

    EPA's Information on D/DBP Rule
    This link will take you to EPA's website on the microbial and disinfection byproducts rules. You can view or download technical guidance manuals and learn more about ongoing microbial and disinfection byproducts rule-making efforts.

    EPA's Small Systems Resource Website

    Online Publications from EPA

    Controlling Disinfection By-Products and Microbial Contaminants in Drinking Water (PDF),
    EPA Office of Research and Development publication.

    Small System Requirements for the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (PDF),

    This guide contains an introduction to the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule for water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people. Readers will find details on the regulatory requirements based on source water type and disinfectant or treatment used. The guide also contains valuable information on the background, development, and benefits of this rule.