Public Notice: EPA Seeks Comments on Approval of Indiana and Illinois Public Water System Supervision Program Revisions
Summary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking for public comments by September 08, 2026, on its tentative decision to approve respective Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) revised public water system supervision programs. IEPA has adopted the federal Filter Backwash Recycling Rule (FBRR), and IDEM has adopted the Ground Water Rule (GWR), Lead and Copper Rule – Short Term Revisions (LCR-STR), Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2 ESWTR), and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 2 D/DBPR), to comply with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.
States that administer their own drinking water programs must adopt rules no less stringent than EPA’s regulations, and EPA has determined that both the IEPA and IDEM state rules meet this criterion. The purpose of the FBRR is to require public water systems to review their recycling practices, and, where appropriate, work with the state primacy agency to make any necessary changes to recycling practices that may compromise microbial control. The GWR provides additional protection against microbial pathogen contamination of public water systems with ground water sources. The LCR-STR streamlines prior lead and copper rule requirements. The LT2 ESWTR better protects public health by targeting additional Cryptosporidium treatment requirements for higher risk drinking water systems. The Stage 2 D/DBPR supplements existing microbial disinfectants rules that address health risks of disinfectants and disinfection byproducts in public water systems.
A Federal Register notice published on August 6, 2026, is available at: gov.info webpage. Any request for a public hearing must include the following information: the name, address, and telephone number of the individual, organization, or other entity requesting a hearing; a brief statement of the requesting person’s interest in the Regional Administrator's determination and a brief statement of the information that the requesting person intends to submit at such hearing; and the signature of the individual making the request, or, if the request is made on behalf of an organization or other entity, the signature of a responsible official of the organization or other entity. To receive copies of documents related to this determination, please contact Stacy Meyers at meyers.stacy@epa.gov or 312-886-0880.
Documents relating to the determination regarding Indiana are available for inspection at the following locations during normal business hours and when the offices are open: Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Drinking Water Branch, 100 N. Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, Ground Water and Drinking Water Branch (WG–15J), 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604.
Documents relating to the determination regarding Illinois are available for inspection at the following locations during normal business hours and when the offices are open: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Legal Counsel, 2520 W. Iles Ave. Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, Ground Water and Drinking Water Branch (WG–15J), 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604.
Federal Register Citations
- FRL 13359-01-R5