Sampling has begun for the Long Term 2 Enhanced
Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2) Schedule 4 Systems in Texas.
These are approximately 225 small water systems — for this
rule systems that serve no more than 9,999 people and obtain any
portion of their water from a surface source or a GUI (groundwater
under the influence of surface water) source.
Beginning October 2008, systems that have chosen to sample for
E. coli have begun sampling their source water. As stated
in the rule, no acceptance of the plan is needed from TCEQ. Systems
may begin sampling on the schedule detailed on their sampling plan.
Systems should submit a copy of the sample results from the lab to
us along with the below LT2 Raw Surface Water Sampling Form. Please
submit your available sampling results for the month and Raw
Surface Water Sampling Report with your Surface Water Monthly
Operating Report (due by the 10th of the month following the period
you are reporting for). Remember you must take your sample within 2
days of the sample date on your sample schedule. Your system is
required to attach your Sample Schedule, Source Worksheet and
Sample Schematic to your Monitoring Plan. Below are links that you
may find helpful;
If you have not submitted your sampling plan, please see
below.
Sampling Plan Deadlines
These deadlines relate to new rules for monitoring and
controlling Cryptosporidium in your water system:
- July 1, 2008— By this date, you must
tell us in writing how you plan to meet sampling requirements. You
have four options:
- Submit to us a sampling schedule for E. coli and a
description of the sampling location.
- Send us a letter stating that you plan to submit grandfathered
data.
- Send us a letter stating that, instead of sampling, you plan to
provide the additional treatment necessary to achieve a 5.5-log
inactivation or removal of Cryptosporidium.
- Send us a letter stating that you plan to skip E. coli
sampling and sample for Cryptosporidium instead.
- October 1, 2008— By this date, you must
implement the plan you submitted in July.
Sampling Requirements
Unless you have submitted grandfathered data, are providing full
treatment, or are sampling for Cryptosporidium, in October
2008 you must begin sampling every surface water or GUI source as
follows:
- Sample for E. coli every 2 weeks for a year (a total
of 26 sampling events).
- In each of these sampling events, E. coli must be
enumerated. In other words, colonies must be counted;
“presence/absence” results are not sufficient.
- All E. coli samples must be analyzed by a
TCEQ-accredited laboratory.
Materials to Help You Meet These Deadlines
In May, we mailed each of the 225 systems in Schedule 4 these
materials to help them provide the required information to us. If
you did not receive your package or would like these materials in
electronic format, please use these files (help with PDF files):
Rules for These Deadlines
The
federal LT2ESWT Rule 
was
published in the Federal Register January 5,
2006. The Texas version of this rule, Title 30 Texas
Administrative Code
Chapter 290 , was
published in the Texas Register January 4, 2008, and took
effect January 9, 2008.
Purpose of These Rules
The goal of the new LT2 is to reduce the risk of disease caused
by Cryptosporidium and other microorganisms by identifying
the systems with the greatest potential for source water
contamination.
The EPA finalized both the LT2 and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and
Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 2 DBPR) at the same time.
Together, these rules will improve protection against microbial
contamination while reducing risks from disinfection byproducts in
drinking water.
