The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5), on December 27, 2021, requiring the sample collection for 30 chemical contaminants from public water systems (PWSs) between 2023 and 2025. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the EPA is required to issue a list of unregulated contaminants once every five years that will be monitored by PWSs. Out of the 30 contaminants, 29 are per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have validated laboratory analytical methods (Methods 533 and 537.1) and are not currently subject to a national primary drinking water regulation, with the remaining constituent, lithium (Table 1 below).
Related Services
The planned monitoring will occur over a 12-month period between January 2023 and December 2025.
The EPA will fund the monitoring activities and is responsible for all analytical costs associated with monitoring of systems serving 10,000 or fewer people. All samples will be collected from the entry points to the distribution systems.
The purpose of the UCRM5 program is to collect scientifically valid data to better understand the national occurrence (frequency and magnitude) of these unregulated contaminants in drinking water. The collection of these data will help guide science-based decision-making and prioritization of disadvantaged and affected communities.
As part of the EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, the UCMR5 program will also help focus efforts and attention on those PFAS that are more prevalent throughout the country and will draw attention to elevated areas of concern. The results of the UCMR5 may also help inform regulatory and risk management decisions. Additionally, the data may highlight PWSs in need of infrastructure funding for advanced emerging contaminant remediation. The UCMR5 may also impact various clients who are in the vicinity of PWSs that report elevated PFAS concentrations by increasing public scrutiny, and potentially being subjected to required testing.
Contact Elizabeth Denly at edenly@trccompanies.com or Emily Larson at elarson@trccompanies.com for help in preparing proactively for regulatory and risk management decisions that might be necessitated from this UCMR5 program.
Sharing Our Perspectives
Our practitioners share their insights and perspectives on the trends and challenges shaping the market.
Innovative Remedial Concepts to Address Microplastics
August 11, 2023
Microplastics (MP) encompass plastic particles ranging in size from 1 nanometer to 5 millimeters. MP historically appeared in lotions and creams as “microbeads,” which acted as exfoliants. MP also form through different processes including the gradual degradation of larger plastic items over time, which results in the generation of progressively smaller plastic particles. Additionally, textiles and synthetic clothing can form MP from daily wear and tear.
U.S. EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to Develop Revised Rule to Define “Waters of the United States”
August 8, 2023
The US EPA and Army Corps of Engineering are redefining “Waters of the United States”.
Regulators Update Design Storm Rainfall Depths in Response to Climate Science Projections and Recent Storm Data
August 3, 2023
Regulators are responding to anticipated increases in extreme rainfall events by updating design storm rainfall depth regulations.
Proposed MCLGs and MCLs for PFAS
March 15, 2023
Final Regulatory Determination for Contaminants on the Fourth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List
EPA Announces $2 Billion in Funding to Address Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
February 14, 2023
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan announced $2 Billion in infrastructure funding to help the nation’s rural water supplies.
PFAS Discharges in NPDES Permits
December 19, 2022
In a follow-up to the EPA Office of Water’s April 28, 2022 memo, EPA released “Part 2″, providing guidance for the NPDES permitting/pretreatment program as it relates to restricting discharges of PFAS to water bodies.
Washington State Establishes PFAS Cleanup Levels
September 21, 2022
The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) recently published a list of 6 PFAS compounds that now have soil and groundwater cleanup levels
EPA Issues Proposed Rule Designating PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances
September 7, 2022
The EPA has issued a pre-publication version of a proposed rule to designate two PFAS compounds as hazardous substances under CERCLA.
Five New PFAS Added to EPA Regional Screening Levels (RSLs)
June 24, 2022
EPA announced the addition of five new PFAS to the list of Regional Screening Levels (RSLs)
EPA Announces Updated Drinking Water Health Advisories for Four PFAS Chemicals: PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, & GenX
June 24, 2022
On June 15, 2022, the EPA released updated Health Advisory Levels for four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water
Integrating Sustainability, Digital Connectivity and Design Optimization in Wastewater Treatment Systems
June 20, 2022
Some organizations rarely think about water and wastewater treatment, until there is a problem. American industry depends on the ability to treat wastewater discharges while complying with regulatory standards and addressing emerging contaminants. If wastewater treatment fails, our environment is negatively impacted, and companies are exposed to shutdowns, delays and fines.
EPA Proposes Aquatic Life Criteria for PFOA and PFOS
May 25, 2022
On May 3, 2022, under the Clean Water Act (CWA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) proposed the first aquatic life criteria for both short-term and long-term toxic effects from Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS).
Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule Lists 29 PFAS
January 21, 2022
EPA published fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule as required every five years and 29 of the 30 contaminants listed are PFAS.
Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Revised Definition: Proposed Rule Published
December 16, 2021
Rule Proposed to Revert Back to Pre-2015 Definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) published December 2021
Construction Delivery Method Comparison: Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build
December 16, 2021
In the construction industry the successful execution of every project depends on the delivery method. Two of the most widely used project delivery methods are Design-Bid-Build and Design-Build.
Overhauling Oroville: The Amazing Push to Repair the Tallest Dam in the United States
November 8, 2021
The Oroville Dam in Northern California is the highest in the country at 770 feet – four stories taller than the more celebrated Hoover Dam – but few outside the Golden State had ever heard of it before February of 2017.
EPA Solicits Comments on PFAS Discharges in Five Point Source Categories
September 23, 2021
EPA solicits comments in five point source categories (PSCs) in the manufacture, use, treatment and discharge of PFAS.
TRC Companies Inc. Acquires 1Source Safety and Health
November 11, 2020
TRC Companies (“TRC”), a leading technology-driven provider of end-to-end engineering, consulting and construction management solutions, has acquired 1Source Safety and Health, a firm that provides management consulting services in areas such as indoor air quality, asbestos management, industrial hygiene and safety management systems.
TRC Awarded a Yahara WINS Grant
August 28, 2020
TRC was recently awarded a Yahara WINS grant to develop a pilot scale simple aeration method for removing phosphorous from the discharge of manure digesters. The grant application was developed and submitted by: Bob Stanforth, Alyssa Sellwood, Mike Ursin, Ted O’Connell, Ken Quinn, and John Rice, who are members of multiple TRC CORE teams.
Potential Impacts from EPA’s Proposed Waters of the United States Rule
July 24, 2019
The EPA is redefining which bodies of water are eligible for protection under the federal Clean Water Act – and which ones aren’t.
TRC Acquires California Construction Management Firm Vali Cooper & Associates
June 26, 2018
LOWELL, Mass. – TRC, a leading provider of end-to-end engineering, consulting and construction management solutions fueled by innovative technology, announced today it has acquired Vali Cooper & Associates Inc., a top California infrastructure firm that manages transportation, water/wastewater, utility and facilities projects.
TRC Recognized for Removing Lead Contamination from Mill River in Fairfield, Connecticut
March 7, 2018
LOWELL, Mass. – TRC, a leader in engineering, environmental consulting and construction-management services, has been awarded a pair of awards from the Environmental Business Journal – one for business achievement and the other for an innovative remediation project to remove lead sediment from the Mill River in Fairfield, Conn.
U.S. EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to Develop Revised Rule to Define “Waters of the United States”
August 8, 2023
The US EPA and Army Corps of Engineering are redefining “Waters of the United States”.
EPA Announces $2 Billion in Funding to Address Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
February 14, 2023
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan announced $2 Billion in infrastructure funding to help the nation’s rural water supplies.
Overhauling Oroville: The Amazing Push to Repair the Tallest Dam in the United States
November 8, 2021
The Oroville Dam in Northern California is the highest in the country at 770 feet – four stories taller than the more celebrated Hoover Dam – but few outside the Golden State had ever heard of it before February of 2017.
EPA Ramps Up Inspections and Enforcement Actions
May 14, 2021
EPA’s acting enforcement chief, Larry Starfield, directs agents to ramp up inspections in communities known to be afflicted by pollution
TRC Companies Inc. Acquires 1Source Safety and Health
November 11, 2020
TRC Companies (“TRC”), a leading technology-driven provider of end-to-end engineering, consulting and construction management solutions, has acquired 1Source Safety and Health, a firm that provides management consulting services in areas such as indoor air quality, asbestos management, industrial hygiene and safety management systems.
Potential Impacts from EPA’s Proposed Waters of the United States Rule
July 24, 2019
The EPA is redefining which bodies of water are eligible for protection under the federal Clean Water Act – and which ones aren’t.
TRC Recognized for Removing Lead Contamination from Mill River in Fairfield, Connecticut
March 7, 2018
LOWELL, Mass. – TRC, a leader in engineering, environmental consulting and construction-management services, has been awarded a pair of awards from the Environmental Business Journal – one for business achievement and the other for an innovative remediation project to remove lead sediment from the Mill River in Fairfield, Conn.