Contact Us   News Releases - Aging   EPA Updates Rule for
Pathogens in Drinking Water, Sets Limit for E. Coli  Release
Date: 12/20/2012 Contact Information: Julia P. Valentine,,
202-564-0496, 202-564-4355  WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has updated the rule for pathogens in
drinking water, including setting a limit for the bacteria E.
coli to better protect public health.  The Revised Total
Coliform Rule ensures that all of the approximately 155,000
public water systems in the United States, which provide
drinking water to more than 310 million people, take steps to
prevent exposure to pathogens like E. coli. Pathogens like E.
coli can cause a variety of illnesses with symptoms such as
acute abdominal discomfort or, in more extreme cases, kidney
failure or hepatitis.  Under the revised rule, public drinking
water systems are required to notify the public if a test
exceeds the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for E. coli in
drinking water. If E. coli or other indications of drinking