April 16, 2012

1) Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides in Water Published
2) Webinar: Innovative Energy Conservation Measures at Wastewater Treatment Facilities

1) Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides in Water Published
EPA has published a table of human health benchmarks for approximately 350 pesticides to enable states, water systems and the public to better determine whether the detection of a pesticide in drinking water or source waters for drinking water may indicate a potential health risk. Advanced testing methods now allow pesticides to be detected in water at very low levels. These small amounts of pesticides detected in drinking water or source water for drinking water do not necessarily indicate a health risk.

Concentrations of pesticides in drinking water that have the potential for cancer risk are not currently included in the human health benchmarks for pesticides table. EPA intends to include these concentrations later. The table includes pesticide active ingredients for which health advisories or enforceable National Primary Drinking Water Regulations have not been developed.

EPA intends to update its online table of human health benchmarks for pesticides annually to ensure that the best available science is accessible to the public.

To view the table of human health benchmarks for pesticides, visit: www.epa.gov/pesticides/hhbp

2) Webinar: Innovative Energy Conservation Measures at Wastewater Treatment Facilities
On Thursday, May 17, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST, EPA will host a webinar on innovative energy conservation measures at wastewater treatment facilities. Improving energy efficiency is an ongoing challenge for water sector utilities. While energy costs often represent 25 to 30 percent of a plant's total operation and maintenance costs, they also represent the largest controllable cost of providing water and wastewater services. One key step for wastewater utilities to take to become more energy efficient is to evaluate and adopt innovative measures to conserve energy and move toward energy self-sufficiency.

The first part of this webcast will focus on energy conservation and self-sufficiency based on EPA's 2010 document titled "Evaluation of Energy Conservation Measures for Wastewater Treatment Facilities." The second part of the webcast will focus on the successful implementation of the various measures and energy recovery at the Sheboygan Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in Wisconsin. Implementation of these cutting edge projects has enabled the facility to be well on its way to becoming energy self-sufficient. The webinar is free.

To register, please visit: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/679203742. For additional information, please contact Jim Horne at (202) 564-0571 or horne.james@epa.gov.