Strategic Planning

Developing a 10-year Road Map for the Safe Drinking Water Program

The Water Quality Control Division has two programs for two different federal rules. The Safe Drinking Water Program implements the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Clean Water Program oversees the Clean Water Act. In 2017, the Clean Water Program developed a 10-year roadmap outlining its strategy to address water quality issues related to ammonia, nutrients (nitrogen phosphorus and chlorophyll), selenium, temperature, arsenic and cadmium through 2027. The roadmap strategies include goal development, evidence development, goal implementation,work group efforts and outreach. The roadmap also includes specific timeline milestones for those strategies and rulemakings involving key regulations 31 and 85. The Safe Drinking Water Program intends to develop a similar planning roadmap for the 2020s. 

The Alamosa waterborne disease outbreak investigation report completed in November 2009 contained nine major recommendations for the department to reduce the risk of waterborne disease outbreak associated with drinking water at public water systems in Colorado. Implementing those recommendations essentially became the Safe Drinking Water Program's roadmap for the 2010s though we never formally made that designation. All of the recommendations from the report have been implemented and continue to be followed, although addressing aging infrastructure is an ongoing national struggle.

Looking ahead at developing a roadmap for the 2020s means evaluating federal actions that the state is required to adopt and implement, like the long term revisions to the lead and copper rule, and other federal activities like unregulated contaminant monitoring. Additionally, we will look at what kinds of revisions we can make to regulations, policies and guidance to help improve our program implementation and best protect public health considering resource limitations. Stakeholder input will be critical to develop a comprehensive roadmap. Please watch for more information, and join the conversation.

➽ Ron Falco, safe drinking water program manager