US EPA's Role in Water and Public Health Communication

Public health organizations, water utilities and regulatory agencies all have a vital role in providing drinking water that is safe, clean and secure. Partnerships between these groups can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of water resource management.

Cooperation and communication between utilities and public health organizations is a key aspect of the Water Security Initiative, EPA's program to design and deploy contamination warning systems at drinking water utilities. In 2006, EPA began a pilot project in Cincinnati to implement a new conceptual design to prepare for and respond to water contamination events. The design included plans to engage public health officials in leveraging existing public health data tools and in developing consequence management plans.

Through creation of a Public Health User's Group and participation in workshops with key stakeholders, an ongoing dialogue has been established in Cincinnati that improves communication and coordination between the water utility and its local public health partners. The Cincinnati pilot is now fully operational and lessons learned from that experience are being used to develop guidance documents and to inform the development of four additional pilots that are now underway.

Implementation of EPA's Lead and Copper Rule is another area demonstrating the importance of collaboration between public health organizations and water utilities. Because the problem of lead in drinking water does not stop at the water treatment site, public education is essential in ensuring water safety. The two groups working together can be more effective in reaching this goal.