The provision of safe drinking water has been an important factor in the improvement of the health status of U.S. communities since the turn of the last century. Nonetheless, outbreaks of waterborne disease and incidences of chemical contamination of drinking water continue to occur.

Setting Priorities for Drinking Water Contaminants recommends a new process for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use in deciding which potential drinking water contaminants should be regulated in public water supplies to provide the greatest protection against waterborne illnesses. The book covers chemical and microbiological contaminants and includes a historical review of past approaches to setting priorities for drinking water contaminants and other environmental pollutants. It emphasizes the need for expert judgment in this process and for a conservative approach that considers public health protection as the first priority.

Contents

• COMMITTEE ON DRINKING WATER CONTAMINANTS
• WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BOARD
• BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY
• COMMISSION ON GEOSCIENCES, ENVIRONMENT, AND RESOURCES
• Preface
• [The National Academies]
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction
  • Historical Development of Water Supply Regulations
  • Development of the CCL
  • Related SDWA Programs
  • EPA's Contaminant Identification Method
  • Use of Sound Science in Future Regulatory Decisions
  • The Perspective of this Report
  • References
• 2. Review of Existing Chemical Prioritization Schemes
  • Review of Chemical Prioritization Schemes
  • Summary
  • References
• 3. Review of Methods for Assessing Microbial Pathogens
  • Identification of Microbial Pathogens in Drinking Water
  • Prioritization Schemes for Rule Making
  • Determination of Exposure
  • Need for Exposure and Health Effects Data
  • Summary
  • References
• 4. Approach Used to Develop the 1998 CCL
  • EPA's Contaminant Identification Method
  • Draft Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List
  • Contaminant Screening and Evaluation Criteria
  • Final Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List
  • Summary
  • References
• 5. Selecting Contaminants on the CCL for Future Action: Recommended Decision Process
  • Decision-Making Framework
  • Uncertainty in the Decision Process
  • Implementing the Decision Framework: Examples
  • General Guidelines for Evaluating Contaminant-Related Data
  • Summary: Conclusions and Recommendations
  • References
• Appendix A Assessing Uncertainty in Decision Processes
• Appendix B Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff

Support for this project was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency under contract no. X-826345-01-0.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.