Developing the ground water disinfection rule

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is developing requirements for disinfection of groundwater-based drinking water systems. The Ground Water Disinfection Rule regulatory workgroup, made-up of representatives from USEPA, states, utilities, and other interested parties, recognizes that most drinking water systems using true groundwater supplies are substantially different from those using surface water. These differences have as much to do with the system's relative sizes and economic circumstances as with the source water and types and degree of treatment currently in place. This article discusses the context, issues, status, and directions of this rule.