A few months ago, we republished an Aqua Talk article I authored in late 2009 entitled “Perspectives on a New Decade.” It looked back on what happened in the 2000s and attempted to look forward to what might happen in the 2010s. Then, in December we published an article titled “Perspectives on the 2010s” reviewing what actually happened in the 2010s. Now let’s look forward to the 2020s. I know this is coming out a year late, but considering what happened in 2020, that worked out for the best as no one could have predicted the start to this decade that we actually experienced.
In the 2020s we will not take our eye off the ball in terms of focusing on preventing waterborne disease outbreaks. We intend to continue vigorous implementation of our rules regarding disinfection waivers, storage tanks, backflow prevention and cross connection control, disinfectant residual in distribution, hand pumps, and water haulers. We hope to see a continued positive track record of no waterborne disease outbreaks and only rare E. coli violations in drinking water. However, new challenges will arise on this front as well. Pathogens present in biofilms have recently been shown to cause most of the serious health problems and health care costs related to waterborne disease in the United States. As EPA reviews the suite of Microbial/Disinfection Byproducts Rules in the early to mid-2020s, they will be considering these pathogens like Legionella and also more disinfection byproducts and different health endpoints, such as fetal development.
The 2020s will involve continued focus on lead and PFAS. EPA just finalized the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). The new administration is going to review this rule, and once it is truly finalized, Colorado will have two years to adopt the federal rule. Adopting this rule will involve a thorough stakeholder process, and of course our final rule must be at least as stringent as the federal rule. However, once the rule is final it will take years of effort to fully implement the rule, especially for systems with lead service lines. The revised rule will include efforts to sample at schools and daycares, and we will be able to provide some support in that area using a federal grant program.
EPA also finalized their regulatory determination for PFAS compounds and indicated that they will move forward with MCLs for PFOA and PFOS. Again, the new administration may revise this approach. Additionally, many more PFAS compounds must be included in the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5) sampling efforts under federal law. Fortunately, the sampling that we have done proactively in the late 2010s shows that we likely do not have a large number of water systems with high PFAS levels, but only about half of the community systems have been sampled so far.
As climate change continues to impact Colorado’s water supplies and the temperature of state waters, we could also see more harmful algae blooms and the threat of cyanotoxins being present in drinking water sources and possibly tap water. We have good programs in place to try to address underlying nutrient pollution and monitor for blooms, but these programs are not comprehensive so we are at some risk.
During the 2020s, we also intend to develop a regulatory framework including regulations, policies and guidance to assist water systems in planning and implementing direct potable reuse if needed. Direct potable reuse can help Colorado move forward with our State Water Plan. The framework for direct potable reuse is intended to have flexibility and ensure safe drinking water and help with public support. But we also intend to prevent communities without adequate technical, managerial, and financial capacity from undertaking such a serious effort.
While drinking water in Colorado is safer today than ever before, the world is not necessarily safer. In 2020 we saw considerably more vandalism and cyberattacks against drinking water infrastructure than normal. I hope that trend does not continue, but unfortunately I believe that this will be an added pressure on all of us for the foreseeable future.
It will take resources for water systems to continue their track record of improving water quality and for the Safe Drinking Water Program to enhance our services in support of those efforts. I am hopeful the recently increased federal funding will continue and be increased further to help us with implementing the expected new LCRR and PFAS rules plus help us support security needs.
Even with all these expected challenges ahead and those that we cannot anticipate as well, I am not losing sight of the fact that, as mentioned before, our tap water is safer than ever and that is something to celebrate and be proud of. We launched a Culture of Health, and I believe it is catching on. We will continue our partnership with water systems, EPA, local health departments and operators to foster a Culture of Health throughout the community of water suppliers. With a Culture of Health firmly entrenched in all of us, we will be ready to face challenges and succeed! I cannot predict what the drinking water world will look like in 2030, but hope we have some fun this decade on that journey!
➽Ron Falco, Drinking Water Program Manager
As climate change continues to impact Colorado’s water supplies and the temperature of state waters, we could also see more harmful algae blooms and the threat of cyanotoxins being present in drinking water sources and possibly tap water. We have good programs in place to try to address underlying nutrient pollution and monitor for blooms, but these programs are not comprehensive so we are at some risk.
During the 2020s, we also intend to develop a regulatory framework including regulations, policies and guidance to assist water systems in planning and implementing direct potable reuse if needed. Direct potable reuse can help Colorado move forward with our State Water Plan. The framework for direct potable reuse is intended to have flexibility and ensure safe drinking water and help with public support. But we also intend to prevent communities without adequate technical, managerial, and financial capacity from undertaking such a serious effort.
It will take resources for water systems to continue their track record of improving water quality and for the Safe Drinking Water Program to enhance our services in support of those efforts. I am hopeful the recently increased federal funding will continue and be increased further to help us with implementing the expected new LCRR and PFAS rules plus help us support security needs.
Even with all these expected challenges ahead and those that we cannot anticipate as well, I am not losing sight of the fact that, as mentioned before, our tap water is safer than ever and that is something to celebrate and be proud of. We launched a Culture of Health, and I believe it is catching on. We will continue our partnership with water systems, EPA, local health departments and operators to foster a Culture of Health throughout the community of water suppliers. With a Culture of Health firmly entrenched in all of us, we will be ready to face challenges and succeed! I cannot predict what the drinking water world will look like in 2030, but hope we have some fun this decade on that journey!
