EPA Negotiating Panel Releases New Draft of Lead and Copper Rule Revisions: NRWA’s representative on the EPA committee negotiating revisions to the LCR, John Sasur from Mass Rural Water Association, will attend a two day negotiating session on the issue this coming week (proposal). The NRWA Regulatory Committee met over the weekend to review the proposal and identified eight concerns with the draft: new requirements for record keeping, new water quality parameter testing, confusing health effects conclusions, new public notice requirements, possible expanded copper compliance, requirement to remove all lead service lines, new expanded testing, and need for additional technical assistance.

California Police Telling People to Lock Their Water Taps (more).

Water Thieves Stealing "Liquid Gold" in the Middle of the Night (more)

Congressional Hearing on Use of Chlorine Gas Bombs in Syria: A panel of witnesses recountedWednesday for a House committee how Syria President's regime has used chlorine gas weapons (more).

New Potable Water Purification Device Utilizes Salt and Water Disinfectant Water: It takes less than 20 seconds for the device to make the active disinfectant for about 5 gallons of water (more).  

Tennessee Chlorine Leak Shuts Down River Traffic: A chlorine leak spilled into the Hiwassee River creating a 40-feet chemical cloud over the water and prompting officials to stop nearby river traffic (more).  

Columbus Fights to Keep Drinking Water Safe: Algae and chemicals from farms and industry create a daily — and costly — challenge.  Nitrates that flow from farm fields and lawns into Columbus’ public drinking water.  Bacteria including E. coli, herbicides such as Atrazine, and algae must be measured, filtered and treated (more).

From Our Readers: Rural Water Steve from Maryland writes: "the terrorist who attacked the Columbian water treatment plant, let's not overlook that ISIS's has on several occasions in Iraq and Syria fought for control of several dams in order to control their strategic economic and military value.  In arid areas such as Iraq and Syria, he who controls the water supply controls the people.  When government forces took back control of several of the dam's ISIS tried to destroy them before they had to withdrawal."   

Alabama Rural Water to the Rescue: The Alabama Rural Water Association, last Tuesday, began investigating Hobson City’s recent spate of leaks and months-long trend of lost water which in recent months has lost as much as 60 percent of the water it carries.  The association will spend several days checking the town’s water lines. (more).

National Rural Water Association 

Contact: Mike Keegan, Policy Analyst <keegan@ruralwater.org>

(Washington, DC)