Water: Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Laws & RegulationsRegulatory InformationSafe Drinking Water ActLong Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleLT2 RuleLT2 Rule
December 7, 2011 Public Meeting on Cryptosporidium Analytical Method Improvements and Update on Source Water Monitoring
Welcome to the Long Term 2 Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2 rule) page. On this site you will find links to the rule, fact sheets as well as general information about the history of the rulemaking.
On this Page
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LT2 Rule
The purpose of the rule is to reduce disease incidence associated with Cryptosporidium and other disease-causing microorganisms in drinking water. The rule will supplement existing regulations by targeting additional Cryptosporidium treatment requirements to higher risk systems. The rule also contains provisions to reduce risks from uncovered finished water storage facilities and to ensure that systems maintain microbial protection as they take steps to reduce the formation of disinfection byproducts. The rule will apply to all systems that use surface water or ground water under the direct influence of surface water.
The LT2 rule was published in the Federal Register on January 5, 2006.
- February 6, 2006
- January 30, 2006
- January 5, 2006 Federal Register Notice
- Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides information on the basic requirements, the public health and environmental benefits, and estimated costs associated with the rule.
EPA 815-F-05-002, December 2005
- Online Version
- PDF File (4pp, 44K)
Quick Reference Guide to LT2 Rule
This document provides a simple and straight forward description of the rule, critical deadlines and requirements for drinking water systems and states, and information on monitoring requirements.
Questions and Answers about the LT2 rule - link back to Q&A's on Basic Information page
LT2 Rule Supporting Documents – The following documents were developed to support the final rule-making.
- Occurrence Document
- Occurrence and Exposure Assessment for the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule PDF (206pp, 2M)
EPA 815-R-06-002, December 2005- Appendices PDF (64pp, 5M)
- Appendices PDF (64pp, 5M)
- Occurrence and Exposure Assessment for the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule PDF (206pp, 2M)
- Cost and Technologies
- Technologies and Costs Document for the Final Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and Final Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule PDF (309pp, 1M)
EPA 815-R-05-013, December 2005
- Technologies and Costs Document for the Final Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and Final Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule PDF (309pp, 1M)
- Economic Analysis
- Economic Analysis for the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule PDF (319pp, 2M)
EPA 815-R-06-001, December 2005- Appendix One PDF (396pp, 11M)
- Appendix Two PDF (345pp, 11M)
- Economic Analysis for the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule PDF (319pp, 2M)
- For additional supporting information related to this rule-making,
visit docket number EPA-HQ-OW-2002-0039 at Regulations.gov
Rule Making History
- LT2 Rule Proposal
Federal Register Notice - August 11, 2003- HTML Version
- PDF Version (157pp, 2M)
- Fact Sheet PDF (2pp, 92K)
- HTML Version
- Stakeholder Meetings
- Federal Register Notice - September 22, 2003 Meeting
- Agreement in Principle
The basic framework for the rule was developed by the Stage 2 Microbial/Disinfection Byproduct federal advisory committee which was comprised of state and local government, environmental, public health and water industry stakeholders.
- Federal Register Notice - September 22, 2003 Meeting
Public meetings
To initiate LT2 regulatory review, EPA is hosting a public meeting on December 7, 2011 to discuss Cryptosporidium analytical methods and the source water monitoring data from LT2. The Agency is planning a public meeting on the LT2 rule uncovered finished water reservoir requirement in Spring 2012. The 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) require EPA to review its existing drinking water regulations every six years. SDWA specifies that any revision to a national primary drinking water regulation must maintain or provide for greater protection of the health of persons. The Agency plans to complete its review of the LT2 rule no later than 2016. As part of the review, EPA will assess and analyze new information regarding occurrence, treatment, analytical methods, health effects, and risk from all relevant waterborne pathogens to evaluate whether there are new or additional ways to manage risk while assuring equivalent or improved protection.December 7, 2011 --Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: Initiate Regulatory Review - Cryptosporidium Analytical Method Improvements and Update on Source Water Monitoring -- Notice of Public Meeting (Washington, DC)