What is the goal of the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2-ESWTR)?

The Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2-ESWTR) aims to improve the control of microbial pathogens in drinking water while managing risk trade-offs. This regulation specifically targets the protection of public health by requiring water systems that use surface water sources to enhance their treatment processes, thereby reducing the potential for harmful pathogens, such as viruses and protozoa, to contaminate drinking water.

The focus is on balancing the need for effective pathogen control with the understanding that other factors, such as water quality and treatment capabilities, must also be considered. This approach allows for targeted improvements in treatment practices to ensure safety without compromising other aspects of water management.

In contrast, the elimination of all pathogenic microorganisms in water, while an important objective in principle, is not feasible or practical to achieve completely; thus, such an absolute goal does not encapsulate the regulatory framework of the LT2-ESWTR. The rules do not specifically deal with establishing new water conservation methods or developing newer water filtration technologies as primary goals, but rather focus on enhancing existing systems to better manage microbial risks.