Press Release

PUC Recognizes Drinking Water Week, Recent Commission Action

Published on 5/6/2021

Filed under: Consumer Education Water and Wastewater

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today highlighted the recent “Drinking Water Week” in the Commonwealth as part of an ongoing effort to increase awareness about the importance of safe drinking water.

“This week, we renew our commitment to working to solve challenges facing the public water supply with a focus on protecting treated drinking water from contaminants,” said Commissioner Ralph V. Yanora.  “The Commission continues to work with customers, regulated water utilities and our sister state agencies to realize the public health goals of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act of 1984 by celebrating Drinking Water Week.”

Commissioner Yanora noted the Commission’s most recent efforts to achieve these goals, including the April 30, 2020, Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) which modernizes the Commission’s regulations, and the Commission’s Sept. 17, 2020, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) which addresses the replacement of metallic lead service lines. 

The April 30, 2020, ANOPR revises the Commission’s regulations to ensure that new utility water providers are qualified and capable of providing safe, adequate, and reasonably continuous service. This modernization also considers what methods the Commission might use to reduce or eliminate the presence of emerging contaminants such as lead, perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOS/PFOA), and Legionella from public drinking water supplies when existing water systems are acquired by utility water providers. As a part of this, the Commission will examine how it might better coordinate its regulation with that of Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding cross-connection control programs approved by the DEP.

The Sept. 17, 2020, NOPR addresses the implementation of Act 120 of 2018.  Act 120 directed the accelerated replacement of customer-owned metallic lead service lines to remove potential sources of toxic heavy metals from the public water supply.  The Commission’s implementation of Act 120 will work to remove and replace metallic lead service lines in a manner that reasonably balances the urgent need for the rehabilitation of this potentially unsafe customer-owned water infrastructure with the costs of replacement.     

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

 # # #

Docket Nos: L-2020-3017232 and L-2020-3019521

Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov