UL Announces Water Testing Services to Meet UCMR 3 Requirements
Underwriters Laboratories has introduced testing methods to meet the monitoring requirements for 28 new contaminants proposed in EPA's third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR 3).
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has introduced testing methods to meet the monitoring requirements for 28 new contaminants proposed in EPA's third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR 3).
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA established the regulatory program to identify contaminants that are suspected to occur in public water systems and may warrant regulation. In accordance with the program, the agency selects a new list of contaminants every five years for testing to determine whether new regulations are needed to protect public health.
As proposed, UCMR 3 would require assessment monitoring for 28 contaminants and pre-screen testing for two viruses. Mandatory assessment monitoring for the 28 identified contaminants would be required for all public water systems serving more than 10,000 people, along with 800 selected public water systems serving 10,000 or fewer people. Additionally, a representative sample of 800 public water systems serving 1,000 or fewer people would be required to conduct pre-screen testing for the identified viruses. The proposed rule does not address methods specific to virus monitoring.
"Like many testing methods required to comply with UCMR 1 and UCMR 2, proper analysis of the 28 contaminants identified in UCMR 3 called for the development of several new analytical procedures," said Hank Lambert, general manager of UL Global Food and Water Businesses. "UL quickly adopted the necessary testing methods, and we are proud to be one of the first laboratories that can provide customers across the country with the tools needed to comply with the anticipated UCMR 3 requirements."
EPA is expected to finalize UCMR 3 early next year. UL has begun EPA's laboratory approval process and, upon successful application and analysis of Performance Test (PT) samples, will obtain provisional approval, with final approval being issued upon approval of the final rule. UL previously obtained formal EPA approval for all methods required under UCMR 1 and UCMR 2 and anticipates similar approval for UCMR 3.