EPA delivers cyanotoxins plan to Congress

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency delivered its "Algal Toxin Risk Assessment and Management Strategic Plan for Drinking Water" to Congress on Tuesday, as required by the "Drinking Water Protection Act" (P.L. 114-45). The plan outlines EPA’s actions to date, as well as anticipated work to evaluate the risks posed by cyanotoxins in drinking water. While not explicit, it appears that cyanotoxins will be included in the next round of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule as part of the agency’s continued work to determine if a SDWA standard is appropriate. EPA outlines how it is evaluating the comparability of available ELISA analytical methods with LC/MS/MS methods, as well as collecting information that will inform future recommendations to water utilities and states on management of cyanotoxins. While much of current efforts are focused on microcystin and cylindrospermopsin, the plan recognizes the need for research on a larger universe of cyanotoxins. The UCMR is scheduled for proposal in early 2016 and is to be finalized in 2017.

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association