Water: Surface Water Treatment Rule
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Laws & RegulationsRegulatory InformationSafe Drinking Water ActSurface Water Treatment Rule
Laws & RegulationsRegulatory InformationSafe Drinking Water ActSurface Water Treatment RuleSurface Water Treatment Rule
The Surface Water Treatment Rule seeks to prevent waterborne diseases caused by viruses, Legionella, and Giardia lamblia. These disease-causing microbes are present at varying concentrations in most surface waters. The rule requires that water systems filter and disinfect water from surface water sources to reduce the occurrence of unsafe levels of these microbes.
Federal Register Notice
- (54 FR 27486, June 29, 1989) (EPA, 1989b) 40 CFR Parts 141 and 142 Drinking Water; National Primary
Drinking Water Regulations; Filtration, Disinfection; Turbitity, Giardia lamblia, Viruses, Legionella, and Heterotrophic Bacteria; Final Rule (PDF) (57 pp, 11MB)
If you need help accessing the PDF document above, please contact EPA's Water Resource Center at 202-566-1729.
Quick Reference Guides
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
- Comprehensive Surface Water Treatment Rules Quick Reference Guide:
Systems Using Conventional or Direct Filtration (PDF) (4 pp, 254K)
EPA 816-F-04-003 - Comprehensive Surface Water Treatment Rules Quick Reference Guide:
Systems Using Slow Sand, Diatomaceous Earth, or Alternative Filtration (PDF) (4 pp, 130K)
EPA 816-F-04-002 - Comprehensive Surface Water Treatment Rules Quick Reference Guide: Unfiltered Systems (PDF) (4 pp, 248K)
- For other quick reference guides visit the drinking water standards - quick reference guides page.
Guidance
- Surface Water Treatment Rules: What do they mean to you? (PDF) (94 pp, 658K)
- Guidance Manual for Compliance with the Filtration and Disinfection Requirements for Public Water Systems Using Surface Water Sources, March 1991 Edition (PDF) (580 pp, 25MB)