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<br />Colorado Rural \Vater PubLication
<br />2i>l8Santa Fe Drive, #10
<br />Pueblo. Colorado 81006
<br />
<br />Telephone
<br />(719) 5-I5-67-l8
<br />Fax (719) 5-15-6788
<br />
<br />PUBLISHED QUARTERLY L>btribullxl to mum~lp.ilitJ.l", W,ltl"f atld
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<br />,..l.lln"dd"gaIH>n..,':lndoth,...mt.".,...I,.Jr.1rtlt...
<br />
<br />Hennan Wooten - Program Manager
<br />Jim Miller - Water Technician
<br />Sharon Jenkins - Office :\1anager
<br />Jimmie Giltner- \Vastewater Tedmician
<br />Oavid Coleson - Field Representatives
<br />
<br />CRWA Board of Directors
<br />
<br />Roy Heald. President -Stratmoor HilL.;; \Vater Dist.
<br />Dick Margetts, 5ecretarv - Proj~~ 7 Water Auth.
<br />Orris Collins, Treasurer - St. Charles Mesa W. D.
<br />C A, Cannon, "'-'RWA Dir.- Tn County \\~ter CD.
<br />Francis Billiard - - - Park Forest \Vater District
<br />Endalesio Garcia - Salt Creek Water & Sanitation
<br />~ Florence Taylor - Costilla Co. \Vater & Sanitation
<br />Merle Worden - - - - - Town of Burlington
<br />Art Sweazy - - - - Arkin \Vater ,'--"'Striation
<br />Dale Kortz - - - Forest Lakes Metro District
<br />
<br />Cover Photo:
<br />The Glpitol grOlIIIl/~ ill Wll~hillgtOll, DC. (~t[Jff 1'1I0to)
<br />
<br />Editorial
<br />
<br />by Herman Wooten
<br />
<br />Drinking Water Regulations
<br />T\\'o items of concern for munidpalities, small
<br />towns, water di.<;tricts, or other wa ter providers need
<br />special attention at this time. They are:
<br />-Senate Bill 2900 (covered in this article), and
<br />-State Primacy (see "State Primacy" irL.:.ert sheet),
<br />SENATE BILL 2900
<br />This bill, introduced bv Sen. Domenici of ~ew
<br />Mexico, Sen. Hank Bro\'..'n of Colorado. and other
<br />co-sponsors, would put J moratorium on imple-
<br />mentation of certain regulation." until a shld\-' is
<br />completed and the Sare Drinking \Vater Act is
<br />reauthorized by Congress.
<br />Is This a Good Bill?
<br />We feel it not only is a good bill, but a necessary
<br />one, if ,vater systems are to continue pco\'iding a
<br />service their customers can afford. (A copy of Sen-
<br />ate Bill ~ is included.)
<br />Are Safe Drinking \Vater Regulations
<br />Necessary?
<br />Absolutelj~ and water providers must continue to
<br />work toward this goal. Howe\'er, there are parts
<br />
<br />2
<br />
<br />within these regulations that need changes..
<br />For Congress to mandate to EPAhow many chemi-
<br />cals to regulate or what MCL to set is wrong. EP:.e
<br />needs whatever time is necessary to research for
<br />health effects and cost-effectiveness before a chemi-
<br />cal is regulated.
<br />There should not be a quota of 25 new regula-
<br />tion." e\'erv three years, but rather, when a chemical
<br />is shO\\'n "to be a" problem for health reasons, that
<br />chemical should be removed from drinking water if
<br />technology to do so is available.
<br />There is a limited amount of funds available for
<br />water systems, These should be used \\'here the
<br />greatest amount of health benefits can be achieved.
<br />Is Colorado Water Safe?
<br />Yes. Colorado was a leader for quality water long
<br />before the SDWA
<br />Colorado Department of Health implemented sur-
<br />face water filtration and disinfection 10 years ahead
<br />of Federal guidelines,
<br />Having the American Water VVorks Association,
<br />.........ith 90 percent of its staff, headquartered in Colo-
<br />rado hilS given the industry in this state first-hand
<br />access to the latest technology, research information,
<br />educational materials, library, publications, and other
<br />resources. Add to this Region Eight EPA (also lo-
<br />cated in Denver}-\\'ith its staff available for as.."i5~_
<br />tance, training, meetings-and you find Coloradow
<br />operators and other industry people among the most
<br />knowledgeable and qualified in the nation.
<br />This, in addition to Nature providing much of
<br />Colorado with quality water to begin with, adds up
<br />to our having a safe, quality product for our resi-
<br />dents and visitors.
<br />WHAT CAN WE DO?
<br />Each person with an interest in drinking water
<br />should let our Senators know their feelings. If you
<br />agree with Senate Bill 2900, you must lend your
<br />support with a letter to Senator Tlffi Wlfth asking
<br />hissupport.
<br />\Vith Senator Brown being part of the sponsor-
<br />ship of this bill. a "thank you" note would be appro-
<br />priate.
<br />If you feel the SDWA should be left "as is," then
<br />express this thought to both Sen. Brown and Sen
<br />Wirth.
<br />
<br />Sending copies of your correspondence to Colo-
<br />rado Rural \\'ater Association could be a time-saver,
<br />if and when this legislation goes to other areas of
<br />Congress.
<br />Letters should be in as soon as possible. This
<br />could come before the Senate at any time. Addres~
<br />are: ........
<br />Sen. TImothv WU'th, United States Senate, Wash-
<br />ington, DC 20,10; Sen. Hank Brown, United States
<br />Senate, Washington, DC 20510.
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