New Lab Testing Begins For
Public Water Supplies

As of May 1, the IEPA laboratories have begun additional testing for public water supplies in the state which opted to participate in a new fee program authorized by the state legislature last year.

Roger Selburg, Manager of the Division of Public Water Supplies, said that as of May 15, 82.3%, or 1,587, of the 1,929 public water supplies in the state had elected to participate in the program, under which supplies pay fees to help underwrite the costs of the tests.

Supplies had the choice of having their testing done instead by private certified labs, and 13.1%, or 253 public water supplies, took this alternative, Selburg said. The remaining 89 supplies, 4.6% of the total, are now considered delinquent, for having failed either to register or make alternate arrangements for the tests, required by U.S. EPA.

The expanded federal requirements call for tests to begin now for benzene, carbon tetrachloride, 1, 2 dichloroethane, trichloroehylene, para-dichlorobenzene, 1,1 dichloroethylene, 1,1,1 trichloroethane, and vinyl chloride. Maximum contaminant levels have been set for these eight organic chemicals. In addition, one time testing is being required for 34 unregulated compounds.

Additional testing requirements will be phased in over the next few years, until public water supplies will be subjected to regular testing for a total of 83 regulated and one-time testing for 113 unregulated substances, in addition to the 34.

Additional testing is to include trihalomethane (THM). Initially, this testing was to be required only for supplies serving more than 10,000 persons. Recently the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) expanded the regulation to include any water supply which receives surface water, regardless of size.

Funds generated by the program will be used to purchase equipment, expand laboratory capabilities and hire staff to meet the increased work load.

Testing services which have in the past been provided without charge to small supplies will be unaffected by the fee program, and those services will continue to be offered, Selburg said. •

July 1990 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 17