EPAFinal Rule

National Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Regulations: Analytical Methods for Chemical and Microbiological Contaminants and Revisions to Laboratory Certification Requirements [W-98-27-II-A-1]

EnvironmentHealthcare

Summary

The EPA updated its rules for how laboratories test drinking water to make sure it's safe from harmful chemicals and germs. These new standards help ensure that water testing is done accurately and consistently across the country, protecting public health by catching contamination problems.

Key Points

  • 1The EPA established updated methods that laboratories must use to test drinking water for chemical and biological contaminants like bacteria, pesticides, and toxic chemicals
  • 2Water testing laboratories must now meet stricter certification requirements to ensure they have the proper training, equipment, and quality controls
  • 3These rules apply to public water systems and the certified laboratories that test their water supplies to verify safety
  • 4The new analytical methods make testing more reliable and standardized, so results from different labs can be compared and trusted
  • 5Water utilities must use EPA-approved testing methods and certified labs, which may increase costs but significantly improves public confidence in drinking water safety

Key Dates

Published

September 11, 2025

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.

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