(Washington, D.C.-Dec. 15, 2005) EPA finalized two related
drinking water protection rules today -- one that reduces the
risk of disease-causing microorganisms from entering water
supplies and the other that requires water systems to limit the
amount of potentially harmful "disinfection byproducts" (DBPs)
that end up in our drinking water. Signed as EPA enters the 31st
anniversary year for the Safe Drinking Water Act, the rules were
proposed in August 2003, and were developed from consensus
recommendations from a federal advisory committee comprised of
state and local governments, tribes, environmental, public
health and water industry groups. "Clean drinking water is a key
ingredient to keeping people healthy and our economy strong,"
said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Over the past seven
years EPA has worked collaboratively with stakeholders to
develop regulations that will provide a balance between the need
to disinfect drinking water and protect citizens from
potentially harmful contaminants." The