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Short Description of the Ground Water Rule (GWR)
EPA published the Ground Water Rule in the Federal Register on November 08, 2006. The purpose of the rule is to provide for increased protection against microbial pathogens in public water systems that use ground water sources. EPA is particularly concerned about ground water systems that are susceptible to fecal contamination since disease-causing pathogens may be found in fecal contamination.
The GWR will apply to public water systems that serve ground water. The rule also applies to any system that mixes surface and ground water if the ground water is added directly to the distribution system and provided to consumers without treatment.
Final Requirements
The targeted, risk-based strategy addresses risks through an approach that relies on four major components:
- Periodic sanitary surveys of systems that require the evaluation of eight critical elements of a public water system and the identification of significant deficiencies (e.g., a well located near a leaking septic system);
- Triggered source water monitoring when a system (that does not already treat drinking water to remove 99.99 percent (4-log) of viruses) identifies a positive sample during its Total Coliform Rule monitoring and assessment monitoring (at the option of the state) targeted at high-risk systems;
- Corrective action is required for any system with a significant deficiency or source water fecal contamination;
- Compliance monitoring to ensure that treatment technology installed to treat drinking water reliably achieves 99.99 percent (4-log) inactivation or removal of viruses.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ground Water Rule (GWR) 
Guidance Documents and Forms
Ground Water Rule Informative Workshops
Contact
Donna Calderon, Manager
Drinking Water Monitoring and Protection Unit
Phone: (602) 771-4641
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Web Site Services
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Last Revision
Aug. 24, 2009