National and California treatment costs to comply with potential hexavalent chromium MCLs. Issue 6 (1st June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seidel, Chad J.; Najm, Issam N.; Blute, Nicole K.; Corwin, Christopher J.; Wu, XueyiNg
• Is Part Of: Journal ‐ American Water Works Association. Volume 105:Issue 6(2013)
• Page Start: E320
• Page End: E336
• Publication Date: 2013-06-01
• Subjects: costs of compliance -- drinking water regulation -- inorganic contaminants -- treatment technologies (strong‐base anion exchange, weak‐base anion exchange, reduction/coagulation/filtration) -- UCMR3 -- Compliance -- Federal Regulations -- California -- Standards -- Chromium -- Cost Benefit Analyses; Water-supply -- United States -- Periodicals; Water-supply engineering -- United States -- Periodicals; 363.61097305
• DOI: 10.5942/jawwa.2013.105.0080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-150X

Abstract

Abstract : The anticipated hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] drinking water standard in California and related national attention has sparked a public policy debate about potential regulatory action, but to date that debate has been lacking in a sound appreciation of the cost implications for Cr(VI) treatment of drinking water. This article imputes national and California‐specific cost implications from low‐level Cr(VI) treatment goals (1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 μg/L) for community water systems based on the best available scientific information regarding occurrence and demonstrated treatment technologies. The annual costs for a national 10‐μg/L Cr(VI) standard would range from $0.55 billion to $5.1 billion/year, substantially higher than those for previous drinking water regulations. The results reported here provide a guide to future cost analyses using the third Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule and other occurrence databases and outline the key information gaps that will need to be addressed in order to arrive at a cost analysis sufficient to support sound regulatory decisions.