Optimal Corrosion Control EPA Guide Update
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Optimal Corrosion Control EPA Guide Update

Regulatory Update

As presented In March 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Evaluation Technical Recommendations for Primacy Agencies and Public Water Systems. The purpose of the guide is to assist water systems and primacy agencies in complying with corrosion control treatment requirements presented in the Lead and Copper Rule, including identification of the systems to which it applies. The guide provides steps for water systems to evaluate CCT alternatives and to identify the optimal corrosion control treatment. Guidance is provided for primacy agencies in the review and designation of the water systems’ recommended OCCT. 

The Guide is organized into seven chapters covering background information on the LCR, an overview of CCT and the required treatment steps under the LCR, start-up and monitoring recommendations, and an overview of impacts of source water and treatment changes on lead and copper releases. The guide also provides detailed evaluation tables, sampling guidance, lookup tables, system evaluation templates, available tools to conduct desktop or demonstration-type studies, and water quality data collection forms.

The CCT requirements and selection of the OCCT vary depending on the system size (population served). The LCR requires the following system categories to conduct the CCT steps:

  • Systems serving 50,000 or fewer people that exceed the lead and/or copper action limit (AL);
  • Systems newly serving more than 50,000 people (grew in population or combined with another system to serve more than 50,000 people following the LCR); and
  • Existing systems serving more than 50,000 people with previously installed CCT but having subsequent AL exceedances.

From September 2016 through April 2017, EPA hosted several training workshops on the OCCT Guide. The workshops were held in each of the EPA’s 10 regions with an intended audience of primacy agencies and technical service providers. The EPA’s goal was to provide an overview of the LCR and a more in-depth understanding of the OCCT review and approval process.

The EPA is currently considering Long-Term Revisions to the LCR. Requirements presented in the guide are based on the LCR at the time of publication. The CCT requirements may be modified based on the final LCR LTR revisions. Additional information and updates on the long-term revisions may be found at water.epa.gov.

The EPA’s Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Evaluation Technical Recommendations for Primacy Agencies and Public Water Systems may be found at epa.gov.