Drinking water utilities will need to start monitoring for a particular strain of bacteria, E. coli, under new EPA rules designed to protect human health.
But for the 850,000 million people who drink water sourced from the Louisville Water Co., there should be no change.
The company already tests for E. coli and has not detected it, a company official said.
“To my knowledge, we’ve never had an E. coli violation – not in my 15 years,” said Kelley Dearing Smith, Louisville Water Co. “Customers don’t see E. coli warnings now – and we don’t expect them to in the future.”
Environmental Health News reports that new rules that focus on E. coli monitoring will take effect within three years and could cost utilities a combined $14 million a year:
About 155,000 public water systems, providing water to more than 300 million people, must comply.
For two decades, water agencies have used an indicator of water quality called total coliform to check for dangerous fecal matter in drinking water. But its presence does not necessarily mean there’s a public health threat. Under the new rule, the agencies will add tests for E. coli, the most dangerous pathogen. Discovery of any amount will spur immediate notification of customers.
Find the EPA rule here.
Louisville Water Company provides water to about 850,000 people in Louisville Metro and parts of Bullitt, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby and Spencer Counties.