DENVER, CO, June 9, 2010 -- The American Water Works Association (AWWA) today announced Cynthia Dougherty, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, will hold a listening session on EPA's new Drinking Water Strategy, June 22, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, as part of AWWA's Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE10).
This listening session, from 4-5:30 pm in Room W183B, marks the beginning of the USEPA's public outreach campaign to build a new drinking water strategy based on principles outlined by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. EPA's strategy will:
• Address contaminants as groups rather than independently to cost-effectively achieve enhanced drinking water protection.
• Foster development of new drinking water technologies to address health risks posed by a broad array of contaminants.
• Use the authority of multiple statutes to protect drinking water.
• Partner with states to share more complete public water monitoring data.
The strategy, first announced in March 2010, is envisioned as a new approach to protecting drinking water and public health. Dougherty's office is leading the agency's efforts to develop and implement the new strategy.
The listening session will include an overview of the strategy, an update on steps the agency is taking to implement the strategy, and an opportunity for stakeholder input.
For more information about the Drinking Water Listening Session at ACE10, visit http://www.awwa.org.
For more information about EPA's Drinking Water Strategy, visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/sdwa/dwstrategy.html.
About AWWA
AWWA is the authoritative resource for knowledge, information, and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of water in North America and beyond. AWWA is the largest organization of water professionals in the world. AWWA advances public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of the entire water community. Through our collective strength we become better stewards of water for the greatest good of the people and the environment. www.awwa.org
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